What does "grains of paradise" mean?

The seeds or seed capsules of Aframomum melegueta, used as a medicine and spice, especially as a substitute for black pepper and in flavoring alcoholic beverages.

What is a synonym for "grains of paradise"?

Common synonyms include: aframomum melegueta, guinea grains, guinea pepper, melagueta pepper.

Grains of paradise

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
The seeds or seed capsules of Aframomum melegueta, used as a medicine and spice, especially as a substitute for black pepper and in flavoring alcoholic beverages. plural, plural-normally
"...graynes of paradise, hoote & moyst þey be..."
2
West African plant bearing pungent peppery seeds wordnet
3
Aframomum melegueta itself, a herbaceous perennial plant native to the swamps of the West African coast. plural, plural-normally, uncommon

Synonyms

All synonyms

aframomum melegueta guinea grains guinea pepper melagueta pepper

Example

More examples

"...graynes of paradise, hoote & moyst þey be..."

Etymology

From medieval spice traders claiming that the spice grew only in Eden, in order to inflate prices. Cf. French graines de paradis.

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