calamint
(ˈkæləmɪnt)
Forms: 4–7 calament, 5–6 calamynt(e, 6 -menthe, 7 calaminth, 8 calemint, 6– calamint.
[ME. calament, a. F. calament (14th c. in Littré), med.L. calamentum, ad. L. calaminthe, a. Gr. καλαµίνθη, καλάµινθος, applied to the same or some similar plant. The Gr. is explained from καλός beautiful + µίνθη, µίνθος mint: but this is perh. only popular etymology. The Eng. word was subsequently assimilated to the L. form, and to mint.]
A genus of aromatic herbs, Calamintha (family Labiatæ), including the Common Calamint (C. officinalis), formerly in repute for its medicinal virtues, Lesser Calamint (C. Nepeta), Wood Calamint (C. sylvatica), and several other species.
| [c 1265 Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 557 Calamentum, (Anglo-Fr.) calemente.] 1322 Wardrobe Acc. 16 Edw. II, 23 Calament 4d per lb. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xxxiv. (1495) 623 Calament is an herbe like Mynte. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 58 Calamynt, herbe, calamenta, balsamita. 1551 Turner Herbal i. (1568) 81 Calamynt..is good for them that ar byten of serpentes. 1579 Langham Gard. Health (1633) 112 Calament drunke three dayes, helpeth the Jaundies. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iii. ii. 49 But th' aged nourse..Had gathered rew..and calamint. 1625 B. Jonson Pan's Anniv. 25 Blue hare-bells, pagles, pansies, calaminth. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 108/1 Calamint is purplish, and of a blush colour. 1835 Hooker Brit. Flora 248. |