costmary
noun
Forms costmaries
- noun An aromatic plant (Tanacetum balsamita), once used to flavour ale (prior to use of hops); also used as a bookmark in Bibles and other holy texts to dissuade silverfish and other pests.
Synonyms
alecost mint geranium bible leaf balsam herb Tanacetum balsamita Chrysanthemum balsamita
Etymology
From Latin costum, from Ancient Greek κόστος (kóstos, “an Oriental aromatic plant”), and Maria (“the Virgin Mary”); only indirectly related to English rosemary.
Webster’s 1913
- noun 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.
Etymology [L. costum an Oriental aromatic plant (Gr. kost, kust) + Maria Mary. Cf.Alecost.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “costmary”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details