c.1150, "plant like watercress," from L.
nasturtium "cress;" the popular etymology explanation of the name (Pliny) is that it is from L.
*nasitortium, lit. "nose-twist," from
nasus "nose" + pp. of
torquere "to twist" (see
thwart); the plant so called for its pungent odor. Modern application to S.Amer. trailing plant with orange flowers first recorded 1704.