pep·per·corn I. \ˈpepərˌkȯrn, -pəˌkȯ(ə)n\noun Etymology: Middle English pepercorn, from Old English piporcorn, from pipor pepper + corn — more at corn 1.: a dried berry of the black pepper 2.: a trifling return by way of acknowledgment — compare peppercorn rent II. adjective 1.: consisting of a peppercorn : trivial 2.of hair: woolly and closely spiraled into twisted clumps or knots < the peppercorn hair of the Hottentots >