[a. Fr. ambrette, in form a dim. of ambre: see -ETTE.]
1. A kind of pear with an odor of ambergris or musk.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Pears, The Ambret is much esteemed.
1768. Miller, Gard. Dict. (ed. 8), 11. A, Ambrette … so called from its musk flavour, which resembles the smell of the Sweet Sultan Flower, which is called Ambrette in France.
2. The seeds of a plant (Hibiscus Abelmoschus) grown in Egypt, Arabia, Martinique, etc., having an odour somewhat between musk and amber, used in perfumery.
1858. R. Hogg, Veg. Kingd., 105. It is employed by perfumers in the preparation of pomatums, powders, and perfumes, by whom it is called Ambrette.
