costusroot

9.9

A root with a strong smell from a Himalayan plant used to make perfume and protect furs

noun

Specialized

: raíz de costus

The essential oil distilled from costusroot is prized in fine perfumery.

Examples

Preservers once used costusroot to protect valuable furs from moth damage.
The scent of costusroot is both sweet and earthy.
Many traditional medicines incorporate costusroot for its aromatic and supposed healing properties.
Many perfumers use costusroot to enhance their fragrances.
The essential oil distilled from costusroot is prized in fine perfumery.
Preservers once used costusroot to protect valuable furs from moth damage.
Many traditional medicines incorporate costusroot for its aromatic and supposed healing properties.

Synonyms

Saussurea costus

vscostusroot

Specialized

9.9

A Himalayan herb with purple flowers and a strong-smelling root used in perfume and traditional medicine

refers specifically to the fragrant root used for oil and preserving furs

Surface Forms

costusroot singular

costusroots plural

Morphology

costusroot = costus + root (transparent) = costus + root

A straightforward compound meaning 'the root of the costus plant'; the semantic composition follows normal English compounding rules.

Etymology

Costusroot is the plant name costus plus root, where root means 'root'. Costus was the name for a strong-smelling Himalayan plant long traded in Asia and the Middle East, and because people used its root in perfumes and to keep furs safe, costusroot simply means the fragrant 'root' used for scent and preservation.