cascabel
cascabel Lexical Profile
• noun
A small, round variety of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivated in Mexico, whose seeds rattle inside the hard, reddish-brown skin when dried, imparting a nutty and moderately spicy flavor to sauces and stews.
"The chef toasted the dried cascabels in a dry skillet before blending them into a rich, smoky salsa."
A highly venomous Neotropical pit viper (Crotalus durissus) of the family Viperidae, native to South and Central America, characterized by prominent neck stripes, diamond-shaped dorsal blotches, and potent neurotoxic venom.
"While surveying the dry savanna, the herpetologist heard the distinct warning rattle of a cascabel coiled beneath a low shrub."
A round, knob-like projection at the rear of the breech of a muzzle-loading cannon, used for fastening ropes to maneuver the gun or control its recoil.
"The artillery crew looped heavy hemp ropes around the cascabel to haul the bronze cannon into position along the rampart."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish cascabel ('little bell, rattle'), derived via Old Provençal from Late Latin cascabellus, a diminutive of Latin scabillum ('castanet' or 'clapper').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.