# watercress

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈwɔːtəkɹɛs/ · frequency rank #53,949

## Definitions
1. A perennial European herb, Nasturtium officinale, that grows in freshwater streams; used in salads and as a garnish.
2. A similar plant, Nasturtium microphyllum.

## Etymology
From Middle English water cresse, water-kresse, watercrasse, water cars, equivalent to water + cress. Cognate with West Frisian waterkers (“watercress”), Dutch waterkers (“watercress”), Swedish vattenkrasse (“watercress”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/watercress