Main Entry: cayenne pepper

Function: noun

Etymology: by folk etymology from earlier cayan, ultimately modification of Tupi ki̵ʔĩ̵já, ki̵ʔĩ̵nʸá

Date: 1756

1 : a pungent condiment consisting of the ground dried fruits or seeds of hot peppers
2 : hot pepper; especially : any of several cultivated peppers of a variety (Capsicum annuum longum) with very long twisted pungent red fruits
3 : the fruit of a cayenne pepper