‖ rosa solis Obs.
Also rosa-solis.
[mod.L., lit. ‘rose of the sun’ (f. rosa rose, and sōlis, gen. of sōl sun), but the original form is ros solis.
Rosasolis is also recorded as a Pg. form.]
1. The plant sundew, Drosera rotundifolia.
| 1568 Turner Herbal iii. 79 Rosa solis is a little small herbe that groweth in mossey groundes and in fennes. 1584 Cogan Haven Health 228 Take a pottel of good Aqua vita,..and put into it two good handfuls..of the herbe called Rosa Solis. 1597 Gerarde Herbal 1367 Let them lay the leaues of Rosa solis in the spirit of wine. 1626 Bacon Sylva §495 The Herb called Rosa-Solis (wherof they make Strong Waters). 1796 Withering Brit. Pl. (ed. 3) II. 324 Round-leaved Sundew. Rosa solis, Redrot. |
2. A cordial or liqueur originally made from or flavoured with the juice of the plant sundew, but subsequently composed of spirits (esp. brandy) with various essences or spices, sugar, etc.
In Meeting of Gallants (1604) 18 converted into rose of solace.
| 1563–4 Will of Simon Smyth (Somerset Ho.), A pottle of the best rosasolis. 1584 Cogan Haven Health 226 These sundrie others are..rather vsed as medicines than with meates: such is Aqua vitæ, Aqua composita, Rosa Solis. 1597 Gerarde Herbal 1367 That liquor made thereof [sc. sundew] which the common people do call Rosa Solis. 1602 Middleton Blurt, Master Constable iii. iii, He so smells of ale and onions, and rosa-solis, fie. 1641 G. H. Witts Recreations Y 6 b, Wee abandon all Ale, and beare that is stale, Rosa-solis and damnable hum. 1702 Farquhar Twin Rivals ii. ii, I an't for your hot spirits, your rosa solis, your ratafias, your orange-waters. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 145 [They] were regaling themselves with a glass of rosa solis. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxviii, You winna be the waur o' a glass of the right Rosa Solis. |
| fig. 1601 Breton Longing of a Blessed Heart Wks. (Grosart) I. 13/2 The Rosa solis the sicke soule reuiueth. 1643 Merc. Brit. No. 10. 76 (Stanf.), This Rosa Solis of Intelligence to comfort them in their agony of ill news. |