mid-12c., "plant of the mustard family, like watercress," from Latin nasturtium "cress;" the popular etymology explanation of the name (Pliny) is that it is from Latin *nasitortium, literally "nose-twist," from nasus "nose" (see nose, n.) + past participle of torquere "to twist" (see torque, n.); the plant so called for its pungent odor. Modern application to a South American trailing plant with orange flowers first recorded 1704.