Etymology

costmary

C3O1S1T1M3A1R1Y4

Today it means: 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. Full definition →

Latin costum ← Ancient Greek κόστος
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The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκόστος“an Oriental aromatic plant”
  2. Latin · derived fromcostum
  3. English todaycostmary

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

Words from the same roots

Ancient Greekκόστος all →

costus

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.