from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Wintergreen \Win"ter*green`\, n. (Bot.)
A plant which keeps its leaves green through the winter.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In England, the name wintergreen is applied to the
species of {Pyrola} which in America are called
{English wintergreen}, and {shin leaf} (see Shin leaf,
under {Shin}.) In America, the name wintergreen is
given to {Gaultheria procumbens}, a low evergreen
aromatic plant with oval leaves clustered at the top of
a short stem, and bearing small white flowers followed
by red berries; -- called also {checkerberry}, and
sometimes, though improperly, {partridge berry}.
[1913 Webster]
{Chickweed wintergreen}, a low perennial primulaceous herb
({Trientalis Americana}); -- also called {star flower}.
{Flowering wintergreen}, a low plant ({Polygala paucifolia})
with leaves somewhat like those of the wintergreen
({Gaultheria}), and bearing a few showy, rose-purple
blossoms.
{oil of wintergreen}, An aromatic oil, consisting almost
entirely of methyl salicylate ({CH3CO.O.C6H4.OH}),
obtained by distillation of an extract of the wintergreen
({Gaultheria procumbens}); it can also be obtained from
some other plants. It is used as a flavoring agent for
tooth powders and pastes, sometimes combined with menthol
or eucalyptus. It is called also {oil of teaberry}, {oil
of partridgeberry}, and {oil of gaultheria}.
{Spotted wintergreen}, a low evergreen plant ({Chimaphila
maculata}) with ovate, white-spotted leaves.
[1913 Webster + PJC]