bergamot

(bʉrgə mät′)

noun

  1. a small evergreen tree (Citrus bergamia) of the rue family, grown in S Europe
  2. its pear-shaped, inedible citrus fruit
  3. an oil extracted from the rind of this fruit, used widely in perfumery
  4. any of several aromatic North American herbs (genera Monarda and Mentha) of the mint family, as horsemint or Oswego tea

Origin: Fr bergamote < It bergamotta < Turk beg-armûdī, prince's pear (< beg, bey + armūdi, pear); form infl. by Bergamo

See bergamot in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A small tree (Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia) commercially grown chiefly in southern Italy for its sour citrus fruits, the rinds of which yield an aromatic oil. Also called bergamot orange.
    b. The oil itself, used extensively in perfumery. Also called bergamot oil.
  2. See bee balm.

Origin:

Origin: French bergamote

Origin: , from Italian bergamotta

Origin: , from Turkish dialectal beg-armudu, bey's pear

Origin: : beg, bey; see bey

Origin: + armud, pear

Origin: + -u, possessive suff.

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