Etymology Map
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Pimento

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a sweet red pepper; allspice

Where does the word "pimento" come from? It comes from Latin pigmentum, passing through Spanish before entering English (1690s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pigmentum
Latin · ancient
"pigment, spice"
a pigment; later a spice
2
Stage 2 of 3
pimiento
Spanish · 1500s
"pepper"
the name Spanish explorers gave to the Caribbean's peppers and to allspice
3
Stage 3 of 3
pimento
English · 1690s
"allspice; sweet pepper"
Jamaica's allspice trade used the name, which later passed to the sweet red pepper
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Read the full story

Pimento’s story begins in Latin: pigmentum meant “pigment, spice.” A pigment; later a spice. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as pimiento. The name Spanish explorers gave to the Caribbean's peppers and to allspice. It reached English by 1690s as pimento. Jamaica's allspice trade used the name, which later passed to the sweet red pepper. Today, pimento means a sweet red pepper; allspice.