1. A plant of the mint family, native to Crete, with aromatic leaves used in herbal medicine and cooking.
Usage: Also called Cretan dittany or dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus).
2. Any of various other aromatic plants of the mint family, especially gas plant (Dictamnus albus).
Usage: Broader botanical sense; less common in everyday usage.

Examples

• Dittany has been used in Mediterranean cuisine for centuries.
• The herbalist recommended dittany tea for its soothing properties.
• Cretan dittany grows wild on the rocky slopes of the island.
• She added fresh dittany leaves to the salad for a minty flavor.
• Dittany was valued in ancient times as a medicinal plant.