horseradish
|horse-rad-ish|
🇺🇸
/ˈhɔrsˌrædɪʃ/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɔːsˌrædɪʃ/
pungent root / condiment
Etymology
'horseradish' originates from English, specifically the compound of the words 'horse' and 'radish', where 'horse-' was used figuratively to indicate something coarse, large, or strong, and 'radish' ultimately comes from Latin 'radix' meaning 'root'.
'horseradish' changed from Middle English forms such as 'horsradish' or 'horse-radish' and eventually became the modern English word 'horseradish'. The element 'radish' evolved from Old English/Anglo-Norman forms derived from Latin 'radix'.
Initially it referred to a coarse or large type of radish (the figurative 'horse-' sense), but over time it evolved into the specific meaning of the pungent plant and the condiment made from its root.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a Eurasian perennial plant (Armoracia rusticana) with a long, white, fleshy root that has a very strong pungent flavor.
The garden patch was full of horseradish plants, their long roots ready to be dug up.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a pungent condiment made from the grated root of the horseradish plant, often mixed with vinegar to produce a hot paste.
She served roast beef with a dollop of horseradish on the side.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/20 04:49