capsicum
UK[ˈkæpsɪkəm]US[ˈkæpsɪkəm]
n
a type of pepper plant with hollow fruits containing many seeds, which can be eaten as a vegetable or used to make spices
n
the fruit of this plant, especially the large mild variety (bell pepper) or the small hot variety (chili pepper)
Morpheme Breakdown
caps
icum
caps
container
icum
noun/adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'capsicum' entered english in the late 17th century via modern latin, which adapted it from the latin 'capsa', meaning 'box' or 'case'. this naming is a direct reference to the fruit's distinctive hollow interior, which resembles a small container holding its seeds. the semantic link is clear: the plant was named for the pod-like shape of its fruit. while the term's ultimate origin is latin, the plant itself is native to the americas, and the name reflects european botanical classification based on morphological characteristics.
Analysis
Structure: caps (container) + icum (noun/adjective suffix)
caps originates from latin 'capsa', meaning 'box' or 'case'. icum is a latin suffix used to form adjectives and nouns, often indicating a relationship or pertaining to.
Examples
i added some chopped red capsicum to the stir-fry for color and crunch.
the heat of a chili capsicum comes from a compound called capsaicin.
bell peppers are a sweet variety of capsicum with no spicy heat.