alecost

alecost (AYL-kost) - n., another name for costmary (Tanacetum balsamita), an aromatic perennial Eurasian herb with silvery leaves formerly used to flavor ale.


The alternate name means the costus, Latin name of an aromatic herb (take from Greek, possibly taken from the Sanskrit name for a specific herb) + St Mary. So this name is the "aromatic herb used in ale."


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.