water chestnut


noun

any aquatic plant of the genus Trapa, bearing an edible, nutlike fruit, especially T. natans, of the Old World.
the fruit itself.
Also called water caltrop.

Origin of water chestnut

First recorded in 1850–55

Example sentences from the Web for water chestnut

  • Once I was as full of romance as a water-chestnut is of starch.

    Parrot & Co. |Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for water chestnut

water chestnut

noun

Also called: water caltrop a floating aquatic onagraceous plant, Trapa natans, of Asia, having four-pronged edible nutlike fruits
Chinese water chestnut a Chinese cyperaceous plant, Eleocharis tuberosa, with an edible succulent corm
the corm of the Chinese water chestnut, used in Oriental cookery