spearmint
UK /ˈspɪəˌmɪnt/ · US /ˈspɪɹˌmɪnt/ noun
Forms spearmints
- noun A herb of the mint family (Mentha spicata), commonly used in herb tea, candy and to treat mild stomach ache.
Synonyms
Etymology
From spear (“sprout of a plant, spire”) + mint, so named due to its spiry blooms.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A species of mint (Mentha viridis) growing in moist soil. It vields an aromatic oil. See Mint, and Mentha.
Etymology [So named from its spiry, not capitate, inflorescence. Dr. Prior.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “spearmint”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details