Fennel

fennel
    n 1: any of several aromatic herbs having edible seeds and
         leaves and stems
    2: aromatic bulbous stem base eaten cooked or raw in salads
       [syn: {fennel}, {Florence fennel}, {finocchio}]
    3: leaves used for seasoning [syn: {fennel}, {common fennel}]
    4: fennel seeds are ground and used as a spice or as an
       ingredient of a spice mixture
    

Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L.
   feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F.
   fenouil. Cf. {Fenugreek}. {Finochio}.] (Bot.)
   A perennial plant of the genus {F[ae]niculum} ({F[ae]niculum
   vulgare}), having very finely divided leaves. It is
   cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of
   its seeds.
   [1913 Webster]

         Smell of sweetest fennel.                --Milton.
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         A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling
         bottle of the tender sex.                --S. G.
                                                  Goodrich.
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   {Azorean fennel}, or {Sweet fennel}, ({F[ae]niculum dulce}).
      It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel,
      and is used as a pot herb.

   {Dog's fennel} ({Anthemis Cotula}), a foul-smelling European
      weed; -- called also {mayweed}.

   {Fennel flower} (Bot.), an herb ({Nigella}) of the Buttercup
      family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the
      fennel. {Nigella Damascena} is common in gardens. {Nigella
      sativa} furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment,
      etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in
      Isaiah (xxviii. 25).

   {Fennel water} (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It
      is stimulant and carminative.

   {Giant fennel} ({Ferula communis}), has stems full of pith,
      which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by
      Prometheus.

   {Hog's fennel}, a European plant ({Peucedanum officinale})
      looking something like fennel.
      [1913 Webster]