Chamomile
/ˈkæməˌmaɪl/noun
A flowering plant used in herbal medicine, particularly known for its calming effects.
Did you know?Chamomile was revered in ancient Egypt as a sacred herb, believed to bring the favor of the sun god Ra and used in rituals for healing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰem-
“to be hot or warm, related to the notion of warmth in plants.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
χαμαίμηλον (chamaimēlon)
“ground apple, referring to its low growth and apple-like scent.”
Late Latin
Latin
chamomilla
“the same as the Greek, adopted into Latin as a plant name.”
Old French
Old French
camomille
“borrowed from Latin, referring to the same herb.”
Middle English
Middle English
chamomille
“adopted into English from Old French, maintaining the same herbal context.”
Modern English
English
chamomile
“the present form, referring specifically to the herbal plant known for its calming properties.”