aniseed
(ˈænɪsiːd)
Forms as in prec.
1. a. The seed of the anise, used as a carminative, and in the preparation of Oil of Anise, Spirit of Anise, Anise water, and Anisette.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. lxxxi. (1495) 653 Some greyne and sede is gendred in plantis wythout coddys: as it faryth in Annes sede. 1440 Promp. Parv., Aneys seede or spyce, Anetum, anisum. 1579 Langham Gard. Health (1633) 30 For the dropsie, fill an old Cock with Polipody and Anni⁓seeds, and seethe him well, and drinke the broth. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iv. i. iii, Such and such plants..have a peculiar vertue to such particular parts, as to the head, Anniseeds, foalfoot, etc. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Anise, Spanish Aniseed..is the best. 1882 Chem. & Drugg. XXIV. 61/1 One pound bottle of oil of aniseed. |
b. attrib., as in aniseed-tree, aniseed-water. aniseed ball, a round, hard sweet flavoured with aniseed.
| 1698 Congreve Way of World iv. v, I banish..all aniseed, cinnamon, citron and Barbadoes-waters. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v., In distilling the anise-seed for the oil, there is procured a limpid water called anise-seed water, which has much the same virtues with the oil. 1838 [See anise 3]. 1924 ‘R. Crompton’ William—the Fourth viii. 125 ‘Have an aniseed ball?’ said Ginger. |
2. = anisette. rare.
| 1756 Nugent Grand Tour IV. 204 They sell a great quantity of comfits in Verdun, and particularly their aniseeds are in great reputation. 1855 Costello Stor. Screen 122 The air was redolent of gin..but aniseed was preferred by some. |