pimiento
UK[pɪˈmjentəʊ]US[pɪˈmjenˌtoʊ]
n
A red, sweet pepper, especially one of a variety used for stuffing olives or for making paprika.
Morpheme Breakdown
pimient
o
pimient
pepper
o
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'pimiento' entered English directly from Spanish, retaining its original spelling and pronunciation. Its Spanish source, 'pimiento', evolved from the Latin 'pigmentum', which broadly meant 'coloring substance, paint, or spice'. This semantic shift from a general 'coloring substance' to specifically 'pepper' occurred in Vulgar Latin, influenced by the vivid colors of pepper fruits. The modern English usage narrows the meaning further to a specific type of large, sweet, red pepper, illustrating how a term for a general property (color/spice) became attached to a specific botanical product through cultural and culinary practice.
Analysis
Structure: pimient (pepper) + o (noun suffix)
pimient originates from the Spanish word 'pimiento', meaning 'pepper', itself derived from the Latin 'pigmentum' (pigment, spice). The final -o is a common Spanish masculine noun ending.
Examples
The salad was garnished with strips of roasted pimiento.
Stuffed green olives often contain a small piece of pimiento inside.
She used pimiento peppers to make a sweet and colorful relish.