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Melissa

//məˈlɪsə// name, noun

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
Bee-nymph in Greek mythology. Greek
2
A female given name from Ancient Greek, popular in the latter half of the 20th century.
"And her owne handmayd, that Melissa hight / Appointed to attend her dewly day and night"

Noun

1
A plant of the genus Melissa, especially lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), often used medicinally.
"Meliſſa, Bawme, hath an excellent vertue to alter Melancholy, bee it ſteeped in our ordinary drinke, extracted, or otherwise taken."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Late Latin melissa, from Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee”), because the plant attracts bees.

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee, honey, or honeybee”). In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name Maol Íosa (literally “servant of Jesus”).

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