Cress \Cress\ (kr[e^]s), n.; pl. Cresses (kr[e^]s"[e^]z). [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.]
(Bot.)
A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves
have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and
antiscorbutic.
Note: The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the
Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium
officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called
cresses.
To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread.
--Goldsmith.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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