Word Study
alyssum
CIDE DICTIONARY
alyssum, n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a`lysson, name of a plant, perh. fr. 'a priv. + ly`ssa raging madness.].
A genus of cruciferous plants; madwort. The sweet alyssum (Alyssum maritimum ), cultivated for bouquets, bears small, white, sweet-scented flowers. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
alyssum, n. any plant of the genus Alyssum, widely cultivated and usu. having yellow or white flowers.
Etymology
L f. Gk alusson
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