Word of the Day - 12/16/25
piquant
/'pikənt/(adj.): having an agreeably pungent taste
The chef's piquant relish added a delightful zing to the roasted vegetables.
(adj.): engagingly stimulating or provocative
Her piquant wit made every dinner party sparkle with laughter and debate.
Word Origin
The word 'piquant' originates from the French word 'piquant', which is the present participle of the verb 'piquer'. 'Piquer' means 'to prick', 'to sting', or 'to nettle'. This French word, in turn, derives from the Vulgar Latin *piccare*, meaning 'to prick', which is believed to be of imitative origin, mimicking the sound of something sharp. The sense of 'having a sharp, stimulating taste' evolved from the idea of something pricking or stimulating the tongue or senses.
Words with a similar origin include 'pique' (as in 'to pique one's interest' or 'a feeling of pique'), which comes directly from the French 'pique' (noun form of 'piquer'). Another related word is 'pike' (the weapon or the fish), which comes from Old French 'pic' (a pickaxe, a pointed tool), also ultimately linked to the root of 'piquer'.