Definition of peppery

"Peppery" originates from the Old French word "piper," which itself comes from the Latin "piper." This word referred to the black pepper plant, a spice that has a distinctive pungent and sometimes biting flavor. The adjective "peppery" was first used in English to describe something that had the taste or smell of pepper. Over time, it also came to describe qualities like being pungent, sharp, or spirited, reflecting the strong and sometimes fiery nature of the spice itself.