Fennel

2 definitions found

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

  Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L.
     feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F.
     fenouil. Cf. {Fenugreek}. {Finochio}.] (Bot.)
     A perennial plant of the genus {F[ae]niculum} ({F[ae]niculum
     vulgare}), having very finely divided leaves. It is
     cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of


     its seeds.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Smell of sweetest fennel.                --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling
           bottle of the tender sex.                --S. G.
                                                    Goodrich.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Azorean fennel}, or {Sweet fennel}, ({F[ae]niculum dulce}).
        It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel,
        and is used as a pot herb.
  
     {Dog's fennel} ({Anthemis Cotula}), a foul-smelling European
        weed; -- called also {mayweed}.
  
     {Fennel flower} (Bot.), an herb ({Nigella}) of the Buttercup
        family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the
        fennel. {Nigella Damascena} is common in gardens. {Nigella
        sativa} furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment,
        etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in
        Isaiah (xxviii. 25).
  
     {Fennel water} (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It
        is stimulant and carminative.
  
     {Giant fennel} ({Ferula communis}), has stems full of pith,
        which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by
        Prometheus.
  
     {Hog's fennel}, a European plant ({Peucedanum officinale})
        looking something like fennel.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  fennel
       n 1: any of several aromatic herbs having edible seeds and leaves
            and stems
       2: aromatic bulbous stem base eaten cooked or raw in salads
          [syn: {Florence fennel}, {finocchio}]
       3: leaves used for seasoning [syn: {common fennel}]