dittany

UK: /ˈdɪtənɪ/ US: (dit′n ē)

Inflections of 'dittany' (n): npl: dittanies

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dit•ta•ny  (dit′n ē), n., pl. -nies. 

1. Plant Biology a Cretan plant, Origanum dictamnus, of the mint family, having spikes of purple flowers and formerly believed to have medicinal qualities.
2. Plant Biology Also called stone mint. a North American plant, Cunila origanoides, of the mint family, bearing clusters of purplish flowers.
3. Plant Biology See gas plant. 

• Greek díktamnon, perh. akin to Díktē, a mountain in Crete where the herb abounded
• Latin dictamnus, dictamnum
• Old French dita(i)n
• Middle English ditane, detany 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dittany / ˈdɪtənɪ/ noun ( -nies)

1. an aromatic Cretan plant, Origanum dictamnus, with pink drooping flowers: formerly credited with great medicinal properties: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2. Also called: stone mint a North American labiate plant, Cunila origanoides, with clusters of purplish flowers
3. another name for gas plant

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French ditan, from Latin dictamnus, from Greek diktamnon, perhaps from Diktē, mountain in Crete