meadow-sweet
(ˈmɛdəʊswiːt)
[f. meadow n. + sweet a. (The earlier form was meadsweet.)]
The rosaceous plant Spiræa Ulmaria, common in moist meadows and along the banks of streams, growing on erect, rigid stems to a height of about two feet, with dense heads of creamy white and highly fragrant flowers. In the U.S. applied to another species, S. salicifolia.
| 1530 Palsgr. 244/1 Medowe swete herbe. 1597 [see meadsweet]. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 97/1 Queen of the Meadows, or Meadow sweet, or Mead sweet. 1856 Lever Martins of Cro' M. 306 The odour of the white thorn and the meadow-sweet. |
| attrib. 1840 Hood Kilmansegg, Honeymoon xxi, O blessed nature..Who does not sigh for its meadow-sweet breath? |