Lepidium sativum
Cress Cress (kr[e^]s), n.; pl. {Cresses} (kr[e^]s"[e^]z). [OE.
ces, cresse, kers, kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers,
G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw. krasse, and possibly also to OHG.
chresan to creep.] (Bot.)
A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves
have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and
antiscorbutic.
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Note: The garden cress, called also {peppergrass}, is the
{Lepidium sativum}; the water cress is the {Nasturtium
officinale}. Various other plants are sometimes called
cresses.
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To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread.
--Goldsmith.
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{Bitter cress}. See under {Bitter}.
{Not worth a cress}, or {``not worth a kers.''} a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless ``not worth a curse.'' --Skeat. [1913 Webster]