costmary

American  

[kost-mair-ee, kawst-] / ˈkɒstˌmɛər i, ˈkɔst- /

noun

costmaries plural

1. a composite plant, Chrysanthemum balsamita, that has silvery, fragrant leaves and is used in salads and as a flavoring.

---

costmary British  

/ ˈkɒstˌmɛərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: alecost.  a herbaceous plant, Chrysanthemum balsamita, native to Asia. Its fragrant leaves were used as a seasoning and to flavour ale: family Asteraceae (composites)

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• costmaries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of costmary

1325–75; Middle English costmarie, equivalent to cost ( Old English cost costmary < Latin costum, costus a composite herb, Saussurea lappa < Greek kóstos ) + Marie (the Virgin) Mary

Example Sentences

Costmary is a hardy, perennial plant, with a hard, creeping root, and an erect, branching stem two or three feet high.

From The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Containing Full Descriptions of Nearly Eleven Hundred Species and Varietes; With Directions for Propagation, Culture and Use. by Burr, Fearing

Costmary, kost′mār-i, n. a herbaceous perennial composite of southern Europe, introduced from Italy in 1568, and cultivated in gardens for the fragrance of the leaves.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Then Balm and Mint help to make up My chaplet, and for trial Costmary that so likes the Cup, And next it Pennyroyal.

From Old-Time Gardens Newly Set Forth by Earle, Alice Morse