poppy seed

poppy seed
seed of the poppy plant, used as an ingredient or topping for breads, rolls, cakes, and cookies.
[1375-1425; late ME]

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▪ spice
      tiny dried seed of the opium poppy, used as food, food flavouring, and the source of poppy-seed oil. Poppy seeds have no narcotic properties, because the fluid contained in the bud that becomes opium is present only before the seeds are fully formed. The plant, Papaver somniferum, is an herbaceous annual native to Greece and the Orient. Poppy seed is an ancient spice; (spice and herb) the seed capsules have been found in Switzerland in the remains of prehistoric lake dwellings.

      The seeds are small (about 1 mm [0.04 inch] in length), kidney-shaped, and grayish blue to dark blue in colour. They have a faint nutlike aroma and a mild, nutty taste especially popular in breads and other baked goods. Poppy seed contains from 44 to 50 percent fixed oil, the principal components of which are linoleic and oleic acids.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Poppy seed — Poppy Pop py, n.; pl. {Poppies}. [OE. popy, AS. popig, L. papaver.] (Bot.) Any plant or species of the genus {Papaver}, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species ({Papaver somniferum}) opium is obtained, though all …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poppy seed — n. the small, dark seed of the poppy, used, esp. in baking, as a flavoring or topping for bread, rolls, etc …   English World dictionary

  • poppy seed — noun small grey seed of a poppy flower; used whole or ground in baked items • Hypernyms: ↑flavorer, ↑flavourer, ↑flavoring, ↑flavouring, ↑seasoner, ↑seasoning • Part Holonyms: ↑opium poppy, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • poppy-seed oil — n a pale to reddish drying oil obtained from the seeds esp. of the opium poppy see LIPIODOL …   Medical dictionary

  • Poppy seed roll — Walnut (diós) and poppy seed (mákos) bejgli The poppy seed roll is pastry consisting of a roll of sweet yeast bread (a viennoiserie) with a dense, rich, bittersweet filling of poppy seed. An alternative filling is a paste of minced walnuts. It is …   Wikipedia

  • poppy seed — n. seed of the poppy flower (used for baking); seed of the opium poppy …   English contemporary dictionary

  • poppy seed — pop′py seed n. coo seed of the poppy plant, used as an ingredient or topping for breads, rolls, etc • Etymology: 1375–1425 …   From formal English to slang

  • poppy seed — /ˈpɒpi sid/ (say popee seed) noun seed of the poppy plant, used as a topping for breads, rolls, and biscuits …  

  • poppy seed — noun Date: 14th century the seed of a poppy used chiefly as a topping or flavoring for baked goods …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • poppy-seed oil — noun also poppy oil : a pale to reddish drying oil obtained from the seeds especially of the opium poppy and used chiefly as a food, in artist s colors, and in soap …   Useful english dictionary

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