tansy

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: tan=sy

CIDE DICTIONARY

tansy, n. [OE. tansaye, F. tanaise; cf. It. & Sp. tanaceto, NL. tanacetum, Pg. atanasia, athanasia, Gr. 'aqanasi`a immortality, fr. 'aqa`natos immortal; 'a priv. + qa`natos death.].

•  Any plant of the composite genus Tanacetum. The common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) has finely divided leaves, a strong aromatic odor, and a very bitter taste. It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes.  [1913 Webster]
•  A dish common in the seventeenth century, made of eggs, sugar, rose water, cream, and the juice of herbs, baked with butter in a shallow dish.  Pepys.  [1913 Webster]

Double tansy (Bot.), a variety of the common tansy with the leaves more dissected than usual. -- Tansy mustard (Bot.), a plant (Sisymbrium canescens) of the Mustard family, with tansylike leaves.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tansy, n. (pl. -ies) any plant of the genus Tanacetum, esp. T. vulgare with yellow button-like flowers and aromatic leaves, formerly used in medicines and cookery.

Etymology

ME f. OF tanesie f. med.L athanasia immortality f. Gk