mustard

mustard
mustard (n.) late 13c. (late 12c. as a surname), from O.Fr. mostarde "mustard, mustard plant" (Mod.Fr. moutarde), from moust "must," from L. mustum "new wine" (see MUST (Cf. must) (n.1)); so called because it was originally prepared by adding must to the ground seeds of the plant to make a paste. As a color name, it is attested from 1848.
Mustard gas, World War I poison (first used by the Germans at Ypres, 1917), so called for its color and smell and burning effect on eyes and lungs; chemical name is dichlordiethyl sulfide, it contains no mustard, and is an atomized liquid, not a gas. To cut the mustard (1907, usually in negative) is probably from slang mustard "genuine article, best thing" (1903) on notion of "that which enhances flavor."
I'm not headlined in the bills, but I'm the mustard in the salad dressing just the same. [O.Henry, "Cabbages and Kings," 1904]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Mustard — may refer to: Contents 1 The mustard plant and its products 2 Other uses 2.1 Names 2.2 Fictional names …   Wikipedia

  • Mustard — Mus tard, n. [OF. moustarde, F. moutarde, fr. L. mustum must, mustard was prepared for use by being mixed with must. See {Must}, n.] 1. (Bot.) The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus {Brassica} (formerly {Sinapis}), as {white mustard} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • MUSTARD — (Heb. חַרְדָּל, ḥardal), the name applied to two species, the common mustard (Sinapis alba), known in rabbinical literature as Egyptian mustard, and the kind called simply mustard. The latter was extracted from the seeds of a different botanical… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • mustard — [mus′tərd] n. [ME mustarde < OFr moustarde < moust, must < L mustum (see MUST3): orig. prepared with must as an ingredient] 1. any of several annual herbs (genus Brassica) of the crucifer family, with yellow flowers and slender pods… …   English World dictionary

  • mustard — ► NOUN 1) a hot tasting yellow or brown paste made from the crushed seeds of a plant, eaten with meat or used in cooking. 2) a brownish yellow colour. ORIGIN Old French moustarde, from Latin mustum must (because mustard was originally prepared… …   English terms dictionary

  • mustard — /mus teuhrd/, n. 1. a pungent powder or paste prepared from the seed of the mustard plant, used as a food seasoning or condiment, and medicinally in plasters, poultices, etc. 2. any of various acrid or pungent plants, esp. of the genus Brassica,… …   Universalium

  • Mustard — William T., Canadian thoracic surgeon, 1914–1987. See M. operation, M. procedure. * * * mus·tard məs tərd n 1) a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made… …   Medical dictionary

  • mustard — 1. The dried ripe seeds of Brassica alba (white m.) and B. nigra (black m.) (family Cruciferae). 2. SYN: m. gas. [O.Fr. moustarde, fr. L. mustum, must] black m. the dried ripe seed of Brassica nigra or of B. juncea; it is the source of allyl… …   Medical dictionary

  • mustard — [[t]mʌ̱stə(r)d[/t]] mustards 1) N MASS Mustard is a yellow or brown paste usually eaten with meat. It tastes hot and spicy. ...a pot of mustard... Thinly paint the lamb with Dijon mustard. 2) N UNCOUNT Mustard is a small plant with yellow flowers …   English dictionary

  • mustard — /ˈmʌstəd / (say mustuhd) noun 1. a pungent powder or paste prepared from the seed of the mustard plant, much used as a food seasoning or condiment, and medicinally in plasters, poultices, etc. 2. any of various species of Brassica and allied… …  

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