A peppercorn is a small, hard, round seed that comes from the black pepper plant. In addition to its use as a spice, it also has a legal and historical significance. In law, a peppercorn rent refers to a nominal amount of money paid for the use of property or land, often just one penny (or peppercorn) per year. Historically, peppercorns were used as currency in some parts of the world, particularly in ancient India and China. Today, peppercorn is also used figuratively to refer to something that is given or done simply for the sake of formality, without any real value or substance behind it.