camomile

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromχαμαίμηλον
2. Latin · derived fromchamaemelon
3. Late Latin · derived fromcamomilla
4. Old French · derived fromcamomille
5. Middle English · inherited fromcamamille
6. English todaycamomile

From Middle English camamille, first attested 1265, from Old French camomille, from Late Latin camomilla, from Latin chamaemelon, from Ancient Greek χαμαίμηλον (khamaímēlon, literally “earth-apple”), from χαμαί (khamaí, “on the ground”) + μῆλον (mêlon, “apple”). So called because of the apple-like scent of the plant.