dittany
- noun
- /ˈdɪtəni/
- Specialized
:
dittana
- The ancient Greeks valued dittany for its supposed ability to ignite when exposed to heat, making it a unique herb.
Examples
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In herbal medicine, dittany is often used for healing wounds due to its natural properties.
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Accio dittany!
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During our nature walk, we spotted dittany growing along the hillside, its delicate pink flowers attracting bees.
Synonyms
A plant from Europe and Asia with white or pink flowers that release a flammable gas on hot days
A plant from Europe and Asia that lives for many years and gives off flammable gas when hot
A garden herb with white flowers that gives off flammable gas in hot weather
A plant with white flowers that gives off a gas that can burn in hot weather
Compounds
- Specialized
A small shrub from Crete with a strong smell used in medicine and cooking
- Specialized
A small shrub from Crete with woolly leaves and pale purple flowers used in herbal medicine
- Specialized
A small shrub from Crete with soft hairy leaves and pink flowers used as a herb
Surface Forms
Etymology
Dittany comes from the old Greek name diktamnon, the name for a fragrant herb from Crete that people long used as medicine and that was famous for a strong, even flammable, scent. So dittany today still means that aromatic herb known for its powerful smell and vapor.
