online medical dictionary | definition of rosemary

A labiate shrub (Rosmarinus officinalis) with narrow grayish leaves, growing native in the southern part of France, Spain, and Italy, also in Asia Minor and in China. It has a fragrant smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish taste. It is used in cookery, perfumery, etc, and is an emblem of fidelity or constancy. "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." (Shak) Marsh rosemary.

<medicine> A little shrub growing in cold swamps and having leaves like those of the rosemary. See Marsh. Rosemary pine, the loblolly pine. See Loblolly.

Origin: OE. Rosmarine, L. Rosmarinus; ros dew (cf. Russ. Rosa, Lith. Rasa, Skr. Rasa juice) + marinus marine: cf. F. Romarin. In English the word has been changed as if it meant the rose of Mary. See Marine.

(01 Mar 1998)