Hyssop

3 definitions found

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

  Hyssop \Hys"sop\, n. [OE. hysope, ysope, OF. ysope, F. hysope,
     hyssope, L. hysopum, hyssopum, hyssopus, Gr. ?, ?, an
     aromatic plant, fr. Heb. [=e]sov.]
     A plant ({Hyssopus officinalis}). The leaves have an aromatic
     smell, and a warm, pungent taste.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The hyssop of Scripture is supposed to be a species of
           caper ({Capparis spinosa}), but probably the name was
           used for several different plants.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hyssop
       n 1: a European mint with aromatic and pungent leaves used in
            perfumery and as a seasoning in cookery; often
            cultivated as a remedy for bruises; yields hyssop oil
            [syn: {Hyssopus officinalis}]
       2: bitter leaves used sparingly in salads; dried flowers used
          in soups and tisanes

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Hyssop
     (Heb. 'ezob; LXX. hyssopos), first mentioned in Ex. 12:22 in
     connection with the institution of the Passover. We find it
     afterwards mentioned in Lev. 14:4, 6, 52; Num. 19:6, 18; Heb.
     9:19. It is spoken of as a plant "springing out of the wall" (1
     Kings 4:33). Many conjectures have been formed as to what this
     plant really was. Some contend that it was a species of marjoram
     (origanum), six species of which are found in Palestine. Others
     with more probability think that it was the caper plant, the
     Capparis spinosa of Linnaeus. This plant grew in Egypt, in the
     desert of Sinai, and in Palestine. It was capable of producing a
     stem three or four feet in length (Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:36.
     Comp. John 19:29).