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costmary

 - 3 dictionary results

cost⋅mar⋅y

  [kost-mair-ee, kawst-]
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–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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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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Encyclopedia

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.

Learn more about costmary with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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