citronella

[si-truh-nel-uh]

noun

a fragrant grass, Cymbopogon nardus, of southern Asia, cultivated as the source of citronella oil.
citronella oil.

Origin of citronella

1855–60; < New Latin < French citronelle, equivalent to citron citron + -elle diminutive suffix

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for citronella

Historical Examples of citronella

Oil of citronella will drive them away for a time but a "smudge" may be necessary.
How Girls Can Help Their Country
Juliette Low
Sure we could wash the socks in some sort of preparation of citronella, couldn't we?
Skippy Bedelle
Owen Johnson
Oil of citronella is much used and is less objectionable to some persons.
Handbook of Medical Entomology
William Albert Riley
When nearly cool stir in three ounces of oil of citronella and 1¼ oz.
Handbook of Medical Entomology
William Albert Riley
It looks like Mammy Susan has all the luck with citronella and I have luck with rose geranium.
Back at School with the Tucker Twins
Nell Speed

British Dictionary definitions for citronella

citronella

noun

Also called: citronella grass a tropical Asian grass, Cymbopogon (or Andropogon) nardus, with bluish-green lemon-scented leaves
Also called: citronella oil the yellow aromatic oil obtained from this grass, used in insect repellents, soaps, perfumes, etc

Word Origin for citronella

C19: New Latin, from French citronnelle lemon balm, from citron lemon

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 citronella

1858 in reference to a type of fragrant grass, and especially to the oil it yields, from French citronelle "lemon liquor," from citron (see citrus). Originally an Asiatic grass used in perfumes, later applied to a substance found in lemon oil, etc.

citronella in Science

citronella

[sĭt′rə-nĕl′ə]

The pale-yellow, lemon-scented oil obtained from the leaves of a tropical Asian grass (Cymbopogon nardus), used in insect repellents and perfumes. Citronella consists primarily of an aldehyde of octane.