sesame

See also: sesamé, sesamë, and sésame

English

Alternative forms

  • sesamé (obsolete), sesamë (obsolete)

Etymology

From late Middle English sisamie, from Latin sīsamum, sēsamum, from Ancient Greek σήσαμον (sḗsamon), from Aramaic שושמא (šūššmā), shortening of שומשומא (šumššumā), from Akkadian 𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬 (šamaššammū, “oil plant”), compound of 𒉌𒄑 (šaman, “oil”) and 𒌑 (šammum, “plant”). The modern pronunciation is perhaps influenced by (transliterations of) Greek σησάμη (sisámi).[1] Doublet of sesamum.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsɛsəmi/, /ˈsɛzəmi/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈsɛsəmi/
    • Audio (US):(file)
  • (obsolete) IPA(key): /ˈsɛsəm/, /ˈsiːsəm/[1]
  • Rhymes: -ɛsəmɪ
  • Hyphenation: ses‧a‧me

Noun

sesame (countable and uncountable, plural sesames)

  2. A tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
    Synonyms: beniseed, benne, gingelly
  3. The seed of this plant.
    Synonym: sesame seed
    • 2012 May 8, Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, Ottolenghi: The Cookbook‎[1], Random House, →ISBN, page 79:
      First, marinate the tofu. In a bowl, whisk the kecap manis, chilli sauce, and sesame oil together. Cut the tofu into strips about 1cm thick, mix gently (so it doesn't break) with the marinade and leave in the fridge for half an hour.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Sesame”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 2 (S–Sh), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 523, column 1.

Anagrams

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