Old English cresse, originally cærse, from Proto-Germanic *krasjon- (cognates: Middle Low German kerse, karse; Middle Dutch kersse; Old High German kresso, German Kresse), from PIE root *gras- "to devour" (see gastric). It underwent a metathesis similar to that of grass. French cresson, Italian crescione are Germanic loan-words.[cress etymology, cress origin, 英语词源]