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camomile

[kam-uh-mahyl, -meel]
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noun
  1. chamomile.
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chamomile

or cam·o·mile

[kam-uh-mahyl, -meel]
noun
  1. a composite plant, Chamaemelium nobile (or Anthemis nobilis), native to the Old World, having strongly scented foliage and white ray flowers with yellow centers used medicinally and as a tea.
  2. any of several allied plants of the genera Matricaria and Tripleurospermum.
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Origin of chamomile

1350–1400; Middle English camamyll, camomille < Middle French, Old French camomille or Medieval Latin camomilla, for Latin chamaemēlon < Greek chamaímēlon, equivalent to chamaí on the ground + mêlon apple; allegedly so called from the applelike odor of the flowers
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for camomile

Historical Examples

  • He was carrying, insecurely, a jug of poppy-head and camomile, which had been prescribed as a lotion.

    The Manxman

    Hall Caine

  • Give it brimstone and treacle and a cupful of wormwood and camomile.

    The Manxman

    Hall Caine

  • I have some camomile leaves, and I will make the infusion while you wait downstairs.'

    Stradella

    F(rancis) Marion Crawford

  • Many weeds seem to be like "The camomile, the more it is trodden the more it grows."

    In Pastures Green

    Peter McArthur

  • Camomile tea is generally supposed to be good for the nerves.

    December Love

    Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for camomile

camomile

chamomile

noun
  1. any aromatic plant of the Eurasian genus Anthemis, esp A. nobilis, whose finely dissected leaves and daisy-like flowers are used medicinally: family Asteraceae (composites)
  2. any plant of the related genus Matricaria, esp M. chamomilla (German or wild camomile)
  3. camomile tea a medicinal beverage made from the fragrant leaves and flowers of any of these plants
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Word Origin

C14: from Old French camomille, from Medieval Latin chamomilla, from Greek khamaimēlon, literally, earth-apple (referring to the apple-like scent of the flowers)

chamomile

noun
  1. a variant spelling of camomile
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for camomile

n.

mid-13c., from Old French camemile, from Late Latin camomilla, from Latin chamomilla, from Greek chamaimelon, literally "earth apple," from chamai "on the ground" (also "dwarf;" see chameleon) + melon "apple" (see malic). So called for its scent. Old English had it as camemalon.

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chamomile

n.

obsolete form of camomile.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper