southernwood

English

Etymology

From Old English sūþernewudu, equivalent to southern +‎ wood.

Pronunciation

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Noun

southernwood (countable and uncountable, plural southernwoods)

  1. An aromatic shrub, Artemisia abrotanum, related to wormwood.
    • 1833, New England Farmer, volume 11, page 43:
      To use a strong decoction of the vegetable bitters as a substitute for alcohol—such, for example as wormwood, chamomile, horehound, southernwood and tanzy.
    • 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 227:
      According to the Roman Pliny the Elder, author of Historia Naturalis, southernwood was conducive to sexual excitement when the plant was placed under the bed.

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