Sentence:  The 'bun <WSD>pepperette</WSD>' had a baluster-shaped body, but the steeply- domed pierced lid was replaced by a much smaller lid, usually with relatively simple piercing, reducing the overall height quite considerably to create an altogether squatter appearance. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A small receptacle with a perforated top used for dispensing pepper or similar spices; pepper shaker.