citronella

[ si-truh-nel-uh ]

/ ˌsɪ trəˈnɛl ə /

noun

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

Nearby words

citrine, citron, citron melon, citron wood, citronalis, citronella, citronella oil, citronellal, citronellol, citrovorum factor, citrulline

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for citronella

One marrow bone, half a pint of oil, ten cents' worth of citronella.
The Whitehouse Cookbook (1887)|Mrs. F.L. Gillette
Oil of citronella will drive them away for a time but a "smudge" may be necessary.
How Girls Can Help Their Country|Juliette Low
A recommended formula is, oil of citronella one ounce, spirits of camphor one ounce, oil of cedar one-half ounce.
Handbook of Medical Entomology|William Albert Riley
As I was bidding the Mahatma good night, he considerately handed me a bottle of citronella oil.
Autobiography of a YOGI|Paramhansa Yogananda

Oil of citronella is only of temporary use; paraffin and creosote are of little good.
In Mesopotamia|Martin Swayne

British Dictionary definitions for citronella

citronella

/ (ˌsɪtrəˈnɛlə) /

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

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.

Science definitions for citronella

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.