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Glite Dictionary
southernwood

southernwood

9.9
A small bush with a strong scent used in gardens and to flavor beer
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌðərnˌwʊd/
  • UK
translation icon : artemisa
  • She added dried southernwood to the mixture for its distinctive aroma.

Examples

  • A border of southernwood lined the garden path, releasing a pleasant scent when brushed.

  • In colonial times, southernwood was often used to flavor homemade beer.

  • The southernwood plant thrives in sunny gardens.

  • Many people use southernwood for its aromatic properties.

  • The gardener planted southernwood for its aromatic fragrance and decorative foliage.

  • In her herbal tea, she added southernwood for a unique flavor.

  • Southernwood is often used in traditional remedies due to its pleasant scent.

Synonyms

Artemisia abrotanum
vssouthernwood
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bush with feathery leaves and a strong scent used in gardens and old recipes

is the common garden aromatic used mainly for brewing and ornament

Surface Forms

southernwood singular
southernwoods plural

Morphology

southernwood = southern + wood (semi-transparent) = southern + wood

The compound is clearly built from 'southern' + 'wood', but the lexicalized plant name denotes a specific species and is not fully predictable as simply 'wood from the south'.

Etymology

Southernwood comes from the two simple parts southern and wood, literally 'southern wood'. People once thought the plant came from warmer, southern places and its leaves have a dry, woody scent, so gardeners used it for perfume and to flavor drinks, which is why the name fits the plant today.