cress, n. [OE. ces, cresse, kers, kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers, G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw. krasse, and possibly also to OHG. chresan to creep.].
A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic. [
1913 Webster]
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The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called cresses."
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"To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread."
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Bitter cress. See under Bitter. -- Not worth a cress, or “not worth a kers.” a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless “not worth a curse.” Skeat.