† ˈmeadsweet Obs.
Forms: 5 medeswote, -sewte, 6 -swete, -sweete, 8 meadsweet, 6–8 corruptly maidsweet.
[app. f. mead2 + sweet a.; but it is possible that, as in meadwort, the first element may originally have been mead1.
The MDu. medesoete has the appearance of being etymologically equivalent (mede occurs both for mead1 honeydrink and for mead2 meadow), but it meant ‘marigold’, an application difficult to reconcile with either of these etymologies. Zedler Universal-lex. 1733, s.v. Barba-Capræ, gives Medesüss and Medkraut as Ger. names for meadow-sweet, and also cites a latinized form medesusium from Cordus (16th c.).]
= meadow-sweet.
| 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 595/29 Melessa, medeswote. Ibid. 607/20 Regina prati, medesewte. c 1450 Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.) 40/2 Citria, mellissa idem. anglice medswete uel bonrefair. 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xxix. 41 Medesweete or Medewurte..hath great, long brode leaues like Egrimonie. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. ccccii. 886 Of Medesweete, or Queene of the medowes... It is called..in English Maide⁓sweete [(1636) 1043 Meades-sweet], Medowsweete, and Queene of the medowes. 1736 Ainsworth Lat. Dict., Ulmaria..Meadsweet, or medewort [ed. 1783 meadwort] goat's beard. 1750 W. Ellis Country Housew. 252 Maid-sweet that grows like a Kecks in wet Meadows. |