nasturtium

[ na-stur-shuhm, nuh- ]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Tropaeolum, cultivated for its showy, usually orange, red, or yellow flowers or for its fruit, which is pickled and used like capers.

nasturtium

/ nəˈstɜːʃəm /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Tropaeolum, esp T. major, having round leaves and yellow, red, or orange trumpet-shaped spurred flowers: family Tropaeolaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasturtium¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin nāsturtium, nāsturcium the name of a kind of cress, taken to mean, perhaps by Latin folk etymology, “something that twists the nose” (referring to its acrid smell), from Latin nāsus nose ( def ) + tormentum (derivative of torquēre “to twist”) torment ( def ) + -ium ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasturtium¹

C17: from Latin: kind of cress, from nāsus nose + tortus twisted, from torquēre to twist, distort; so called because the pungent smell causes one to wrinkle one's nose

Example Sentences

“Simple ones to grow are nasturtium for those cabbage whites, the small white and the large white butterflies, and things like sweet rocket for the orange tip butterfly,” she says.

From BBC

Cobaea, or any morning glory or nasturtium relative, is sown in May in the greenhouse or under lights.

From Seattle Times

My steak, medium-rare per my answer to our kind server’s inquiry, came with a tangle of smoky-grilled wild mushrooms and wildly sour pickled watermelon rind, all garnished with a pretty orange nasturtium.

From Seattle Times

Rumpf, a horticultural therapist, points out fragrant spearmint, chives, chamomile and thyme, then pops an orange nasturtium flower in her mouth.

From Seattle Times

Odorific nasturtiums, marigolds and anything in the onion family effectively confuse and distract pests from your plants.

From Seattle Times