costus
costus Lexical Profile
costus Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An aromatic root obtained from a Himalayan plant (Saussurea costus), used historically as a spice, in incense, in perfumery, and in traditional Asian medicine.
"The ancient Romans imported costus from India to use as an exotic spice and a fragrant component in their perfumes."
A genus of tropical perennial herbaceous plants in the family Costaceae, native to tropical climates and commonly known as spiral gingers, cultivated for their striking foliage and flowers.
"The bright red inflorescences of the costus plant add a dramatic, tropical flair to the botanical garden."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'costus' is a botanical false friend: it refers both to a genus of tropical plants commonly known as spiral gingers, and to the historically significant aromatic root of an entirely different, unrelated Himalayan thistle (Saussurea costus).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Latin 'costum', from Ancient Greek 'kóstos', which was borrowed from an Indo-Aryan source, akin to Sanskrit 'kuṣṭha', originally referring to the aromatic medicinal root.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.