Forms: 4–7 calament, 5–6 calamynt(e, 6 -menthe, 7 calaminth, 8 calemint, 6– calamint. [ME. calament, a. F. calament (14th c. in Littré), med.L. calamentum, ad. L. calaminthe, a. Gr. καλαμίνθη, κάλάμινθος, applied to the same or some similar plant. The Gr. is explained from κάλος beautiful + μίνθη, μίνθος mint: but this is perh. only popular etymology. The Eng. word was subsequently assimilated to the L. form, and to mint.]
A genus of aromatic herbs, Calamintha (N. O. Labiatæ), including the Common Calamint (C. officinalis), formerly in repute for its medicinal virtues, Lesser Calamint (C. Nepeta), Wood Calamint (C. sylvatica), and several other species.
[c. 1265. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 557. Calamentum, (Anglo-Fr.) calemente.]
1322. Wardrobe Acc. 16 Edw. II., 23. Calament 4d per lb.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xxxiv. (1495), 623. Calament is an herbe like Mynte.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 58. Calamynt, herbe, calamenta, balsamita.
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. (1568), 81. Calamynt … is good for them that ar byten of serpentes.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 112. Calament drunke three dayes, helpeth the Iaundies.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 49. But th’ aged nourse … Had gathered rew … and calamint.
1625. B. Jonson, Pan’s Anniversary, Wks. (ed. Rtldg.), 643/1. Blue hare-bells, pagles, pansies, calaminth.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 108/1. Calamint is purplish, and of a blush colour.
1835. Hooker, Brit. Flora, 248.
