Costmary

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  costmary
       n 1: tansy-scented Eurasian perennial herb with buttonlike yellow
            flowers; used as potherb or salad green and sometimes
            for potpourri or tea or flavoring; sometimes placed in
            genus Chrysanthemum [syn: {alecost}, {bible leaf}, {mint
            geranium}, {balsam herb}, {Tanacetum balsamita}, {Chrysanthemum
            balsamita}]
       2: leaves used sparingly (because of bitter overtones) in
          sauces and soups and stuffings