from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tansy \Tan"sy\, n. [OE. tansaye, F. tanaise; cf. It. & Sp.
tanaceto, NL. tanacetum, Pg. atanasia, athanasia, Gr.
'aqanasi`a immortality, fr. 'aqa`natos immortal; 'a priv. +
qa`natos death.]
1. (Bot.) Any plant of the composite genus {Tanacetum}. The
common tansy ({Tanacetum vulgare}) has finely divided
leaves, a strong aromatic odor, and a very bitter taste.
It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
[1913 Webster]
2. A dish common in the seventeenth century, made of eggs,
sugar, rose water, cream, and the juice of herbs, baked
with butter in a shallow dish. [Obs.] --Pepys.
[1913 Webster]
{Double tansy} (Bot.), a variety of the common tansy with the
leaves more dissected than usual.
{Tansy mustard} (Bot.), a plant ({Sisymbrium canescens}) of
the Mustard family, with tansylike leaves.
[1913 Webster]