watercress
Meaning
A small, fast-growing plant with strong-tasting, dark green leaves that are eaten raw in salads or as a garnish.
The leaves of this plant, used as a salad vegetable or herb.
Structure
Usage
The sandwich was garnished with a sprig of fresh watercress.
Watercress soup is a traditional dish in some regions.
She foraged for wild watercress along the edges of the clear brook.
Etymology
The word 'watercress' is a transparent English compound, formed from the native words 'water' and 'cress'. It directly describes the plant's primary growing environment—shallow, running water such as streams and springs. The 'cress' element denotes its membership in a family of pungent, edible leafy plants. Thus, the term's logic is purely descriptive, distinguishing this aquatic variety from other cresses like garden cress or land cress.
Analysis
water: From Old English wæter, meaning the clear liquid. In this compound, it indicates the plant's typical habitat. cress: From Old English cresse, referring to any of various plants with pungent leaves used in salads, related to German Kresse.