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]