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mus·tard

(mŭstərd)

a. Any of various Eurasian plants of the mustard family, especially white mustard, Indian mustard, and black mustard, which are cultivated for their pungent seeds and edible leaves.

b. A condiment made from the powdered seeds of certain of these plants.

2. A member of the mustard family.

3. A dark yellow to light olive brown.

4. Any of a group of toxic organic compounds that include mustard gas and the nitrogen mustards.

[Middle English, from Old French mustarde, from Latin mustum, must, unfermented wine; see MUST³.]

mustard·y adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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