romerillo

noun

ro·​mer·​il·​lo

ˌrōməˈri(ˌ)lō

plural -s

1

: any of several tropical American plants with an aromatic odor most of which yield native remedies or dyes: such as

a

: a South American herb (Heterothalamus brunioides) of the family Compositae whose flower heads yield a yellow dye

b

: a Mexican shrubby milkweed (Asclepias linaria) that yields a violent purge

c

: any of several Mexican plants of the family Compositae (especially Porophyllum scoparium and Chrysactinia mexicana)

2

: the dye yielded by the South American herb romerillo

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, diminutive of romero rosemary, from Latin ros maris, literally, dew of the sea, from ros dew + maris, genitive of mare sea

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