dittany

From Old French ditan (French dictame), from Latin dictamnum, from Ancient Greek δίκταμνον (díktamnon), reportedly from Δίκτη (Díktē, “Dicte”), a mountain in Crete on whose slopes the plant grew.

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɪtəni/

dittany (countable and uncountable, plural dittanies)

1. A labiate plant, Origanum dictamnus, formerly renowned for its medicinal properties; dittany of Crete.
2. A fragrant plant in the rue family, Dictamnus albus.

   Synonym: fraxinella, gas plant, burning bush

3. Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus (syn. Ballota pseudodictamnus; false dittany)
4. (US) A fragrant herb in the mint family native to the eastern United States, Cunila origanoides.

   Synonym: common dittany, stone mint, frost mint, American dittany

• Dittany on Wikipedia.Wikipedia