Rosemary
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A shrub, Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis), that originates from Europe and Asia Minor and produces a fragrant herb used in cooking and perfumes. uncountable, usually
- 2 extremely pungent leaves used fresh or dried as seasoning for especially meats wordnet
- 3 widely cultivated for its fragrant grey-green leaves used in cooking and in perfumery wordnet
- 1 A female given name from Latin.
""And you - you darling!" - addressing the astonished Rosemary - "will you love your grandmamma? Kiss me, my child." - - - "Oh, you tell fibs!" cried the child. "My name is Rose Marie Romarin - is it not, Grandpa?""
Example
More examples"Basil, sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano are popular herbs."
Etymology
From Middle English rosmary, rosemarye, alteration (based on rose + Mary) of earlier Middle English rosmarine, rosemaryn, partly from Old French rosmarin, partly directly from Latin rōsmarīnus (“rosemary”), from rōs (“dew, moisture”) + marīnus (“marine, of the sea”).
A combination of Rose + Mary, referring to the flower as a symbol of Virgin Mary, first recorded in the eighteenth century. It is found in continental Europe as Rosemarie and Rosa Maria. After mid-nineteenth century when flower names became common it may also refer to the herb rosemary, Latin ros marinus "dew of the sea".
Related phrases
More for "rosemary"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.