Jessamine
/ˈdʒɛs.ə.mɪn/noun
A fragrant flowering plant of the olive family, especially a jasmine.
Did you know?Jessamine is an older English spelling of jasmine, a word that came to Europe through Persian and Arabic trade routes, carrying a flower so prized it became wrapped in poetry, perfume, and courtly symbolism.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Persian
Persian
yasamin
“jasmine flower”
Arabic
Ar
yas(a)min
“jasmine flower”
Medieval Latin
Latin
jasminum
“jasmine”
Old French
OF
jessamine
“jasmine”
16th-17th Century
English
jessamine
“an older English spelling of jasmine”
Modern English
English
jasmine
“a fragrant flowering plant of the genus Jasminum”