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Costmary - 4 dictionary results
cost⋅mar⋅y
[kost-mair-ee, kawst-] 
–noun, plural -mar⋅ies.
| a composite plant, Chrysanthemum balsamita, that has silvery, fragrant leaves and is used in salads and as a flavoring. |
Also called mint geranium.
Origin:
1325–75; ME costmarie, equiv. to cost (OE cost costmary < L costum, costus a composite herb, Saussurea lappa < Gk kóstos) + Marie (the Virgin) Mary
1325–75; ME costmarie, equiv. to cost (OE cost costmary < L costum, costus a composite herb, Saussurea lappa < Gk kóstos) + Marie (the Virgin) Mary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To Costmary
| cost·mar·y (kôst'mâr'ē) n. pl. cost·mar·ies A Eurasian perennial herb (Chrysanthemum balsamita) in the composite family, having aromatic foliage sometimes used for potpourri, tea, or flavoring. [Middle English costmarie : cost, costmary (from Old English, from Latin costum, from Greek kostos, from Sanskrit kuṣṭhaḥ) + marie, Mary, the mother of Jesus.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Costmary
Cost"ma*ry\ (k?st"m?-r?), n. [L. costum an Oriental aromatic plant (Gr. ???, cf. Ar. kost, kust) + Maria Mary. Cf. Alecost.] (Bot.) A garden plant (Chrysanthemum Balsamita) having a strong balsamic smell, and nearly allied to tansy. It is used as a pot herb and salad plant and in flavoring ale and beer. Called also alecost.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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costmary
(Tanacetum balsamita), aromatic herb of the aster family (Asteracae) with yellow, button-shaped flowers. Its bitter, slightly lemony leaves may be used fresh in salads and fresh or dried as a flavouring, particularly for meats, poultry, and English ale. The dried leaves are also used as a tea and in potpourri.
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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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