attar
(ˈætə(r))
Also 9 atar, and otto, q.v.
[a. Pers. ﻋaṭar perfume essence, ﻋaṭar-gul essence of roses, ad. Arab. , ﻋiṭr, pl. , ﻋuṭūr, ﻋoṭōr, aroma, f. ﻋaṭara to breathe perfume.]
A very fragrant, volatile, essential oil obtained from the petals of the rose; fragrant essence (of roses).
| 1798 Pennant Hindostan II. 238 That luxury of India, the Attar of Roses. 1825 Macaulay Milton, Ess. I. 6 These poems differ from each other, as atar of roses differs from ordinary rose water. 1873 T. Hardy Madding Crowd xxiii. (1882) 175 That buzz of pleasure which is the attar of applause. |
b. The full Persian Attar-gul is sometimes used.
| 1813 Byron Br. Abydos i. x, The Persian Atar-gul's perfume. 1876 Browning Pacchiarotto 228 The true half-brandy, half-attar-gul. |