In other allusive and proverbial contexts, chiefly with reference to the biting, pungent, inflaming, or stimulating qualities of pepper.

A penetrating taste or flavour; usually (but not always) an after-taste, or a disagreeable or alien taste from contact with something else.

Pungency, sharpness, penetrating power. Obsolete.

The quality of being ‘hot’ in taste; strength or pungency of flavour.

Piquancy, poignancy.

= piquancy, n.

Sharpness, keenness; pungency or acidity of taste. Obsolete.

Keenness, pungency. Obsolete.

The property of having a pungent smell or taste; (more widely) a stinging, irritant, or caustic quality.

A pleasant or invigorating sharpness or pungency of taste or smell; zest, tang; an appetizing flavour.

Pungency or sharpness of taste or smell. Frequently figurative (cf. sense 2). Now rare.

The quality of being biting or caustic; (also) a smarting or acute irritation.

Pungency or sharpness of taste. Obsolete.

Caustic quality; burning pungent taste; the property of destroying or corroding organic tissue.

= poignancy, n. (in various senses); (formerly) †sharpness, pungency (obsolete); (more recently) keenness of feeling, or the ability to evoke…

= pungency, n.

Pungency (of seasoning).

= piquancy, n.

The quality of being zingy; energy, liveliness; zest, piquancy.