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Added 10 October 2026

costmary

noun

Latin root: costum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). More about costmary at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An aromatic plant (Tanacetum balsamita), once used to flavour ale (prior to use of hops); also used as a bookmark in Bibles and other holy texts to dissuade silverfish and other pests.

Origin

From Latin costum, from Ancient Greek κόστος (kóstos, “an Oriental aromatic plant”), and Maria (“the Virgin Mary”); only indirectly related to English rosemary.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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