southernwood

[ suhth-ern-wood ]

noun

1. a woody-stemmed wormwood, Artemisia abrotanum, of southern Europe, having aromatic, finely dissected leaves.

southernwood

/ ˈsʌðənˌwʊd /

noun

1. an aromatic shrubby wormwood, Artemisia abrotanum, of S Europe, having finely dissected leaves and small drooping heads of yellowish flowers Also calledold manlad's love

Word History and Origins

Origin of southernwood¹

before 1000; Middle English southernwode, Old English sūtherne wudu. See southern, wood ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of southernwood¹

Old English. See southern , wood

Example Sentences

For the city of a day sprigs of southernwood, lavender, thyme, or marjoram make charming little trees.

From Project Gutenberg

Lad′die, a little lad: a boy.—Lad's love, a provincial name of the southernwood.

From Project Gutenberg

Boy′ishness.—Boy's love, a popular name for southernwood; Boy's play, trifling.

From Project Gutenberg

In the little room below, the lamp was lit; for the glow fell warmly upon the gravel path, shell-bordered, and upon the tufted mignonette, sea-pinks, and feathery southernwood.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, too, are sweet marjoram, rosemary, and rue; so also bay and thyme, and some pot-herbs whose use is forgotten, besides southernwood and wormwood.

From Project Gutenberg