mustard

[ muhs-terd ]

noun

1. a pungent powder or paste prepared from the seeds of certain mustard plants, used as a food seasoning or condiment, and medicinally in plasters, poultices, etc.
2. Botany. any of various cruciferous plants of the mustard family, noted for their acrid and pungent qualities and widely cultivated for culinary and agricultural purposes: among the most commercially important mustards are black mustard, brown mustard, and white mustard.
3. nitrogen mustard.

mustard

/ ˈmʌstəd /

noun

1. any of several Eurasian plants of the genus Brassica, esp black mustard and white mustard, having yellow or white flowers and slender pods and cultivated for their pungent seeds: family Brassicaceae (crucifers) See also charlock
2. a paste made from the powdered seeds of any of these plants and used as a condiment
3. 1. a brownish-yellow colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a mustard carpet

4. slang.
   zest or enthusiasm
5. cut the mustard slang.
   to come up to expectations

Word History and Origins

Origin of mustard¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mostard(e), mustart, from Old French mostarde, moustarde, a relish originally made of mustard seed and must, equivalent to moust + -arde; must ², -ard

Word History and Origins

Origin of mustard¹

C13: from Old French moustarde, from Latin mustum must ², since the original condiment was made by adding must

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cut the mustard, Slang. to reach or surpass the desired standard of performance:

   a pitcher who cuts the mustard with his fastball.

More idioms and phrases containing mustard

see cut the mustard .

Example Sentences

An “intriguing stranger” with a Caesar-style haircut, a mustard shirt and Beatles boots, Bono, then 27, had been a songwriter since his teens.

From Los Angeles Times

Although everyone has their favorite combination—mine is a chili sausage with spicy mustard, the options feel endless.

From Salon

It was a warm October evening and the swaths of black mustard weed on the trail had completely dried up, leaving the towering stalks spindly and bare.

From Los Angeles Times

The hope is that the plants will be robust enough — thanks to the beneficial microbes — to crowd out the black mustard and other invasive plants growing nearby, Rock said.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month FGS Ingredients said additional testing across its ingredients had "not detected any presence of peanut content or residue", but advised customers to remove products from sale containing the mustard ingredients.

From BBC

Related Words

• dressing
• gravy
• horseradish
• ketchup
• pepper
• relish
• salsa
• salt
• sauce
• seasoning
• spice