The AI-powered English dictionary
plural peppercorns
The seeds of the plant Piper nigrum. Commonly used as a spice, usually but not always ground or crushed. examples
A small, insignificant quantity; a whit or jot. quotations
A 75 ¢ book must look 40 ¢ better to the distributor and wholesaler, because if one peppercorn of doubt that people will pay 75 ¢ for the book gets thrown into the distribution mill, the books may never leave their cartons […]
1961, Book Production Magazine, volumes 73-74, page 47
(law, attributive) A nominal consideration used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract. examples