Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Wormwood \Worm"wood\, n. [AS. werm?d, akin to OHG. wermuota,
   wormuota, G. wermuth, wermut; of uncertain origin.]
   1. (Bot.) A composite plant ({Artemisia Absinthium}), having
      a bitter and slightly aromatic taste, formerly used as a
      tonic and a vermifuge, and to protect woolen garments from
      moths. It gives the peculiar flavor to the cordial called
      absinthe. The volatile oil is a narcotic poison. The term
      is often extended to other species of the same genus.

   2. Anything very bitter or grievous; bitterness.

            Lest there should be among you a root that beareth
            gall and wormwood.                    --Deut. xxix.
                                                  18.

   {Roman wormwood} (Bot.), an American weed ({Ambrosia
      artemisi[ae]folia}); hogweed.

   {Tree wormwood} (Bot.), a species of Artemisia (probably
      {Artemisia variabilis}) with woody stems.

   {Wormwood hare} (Zo["o]l.), a variety of the common hare
      ({Lepus timidus}); -- so named from its color.

Sal \Sal\ (s[a^]l), n. [L. See {Salt}.] (Chem. & Pharm.)
   Salt.

   {Sal absinthii} [NL.] (Old Chem.), an impure potassium
      carbonate obtained from the ashes of wormwood ({Artemisia
      Absinthium}).

   {Sal acetosell[ae]} [NL.] (Old Chem.), salt of sorrel.

   {Sal alembroth}. (Old Chem.) See {Alembroth}.

   {Sal ammoniac} (Chem.), ammonium chloride, {NH4Cl}, a white
      crystalline volatile substance having a sharp salty taste,
      obtained from gas works, from nitrogenous matter, etc. It
      is largely employed as a source of ammonia, as a reagent,
      and as an expectorant in bronchitis. So called because
      originally made from the soot from camel's dung at the
      temple of Jupiter Ammon in Africa. Called also {muriate of
      ammonia}.

   {Sal catharticus} [NL.] (Old Med. Chem.), Epsom salts.

   {Sal culinarius} [L.] (Old Chem.), common salt, or sodium
      chloride.

   {Sal Cyrenaicus}. [NL.] (Old Chem.) See {Sal ammoniac} above.
      

   {Sal de duobus}, {Sal duplicatum} [NL.] (Old Chem.),
      potassium sulphate; -- so called because erroneously
      supposed to be composed of two salts, one acid and one
      alkaline.

   {Sal diureticus} [NL.] (Old Med. Chem.), potassium acetate.
      

   {Sal enixum} [NL.] (Old Chem.), acid potassium sulphate.

   {Sal gemm[ae]} [NL.] (Old Min.), common salt occuring native.
      

   {Sal Jovis} [NL.] (Old Chem.), salt tin, or stannic chloride;
      -- the alchemical name of tin being Jove.

   {Sal Martis} [NL.] (Old Chem.), green vitriol, or ferrous
      sulphate; -- the alchemical name of iron being Mars.

   {Sal microcosmicum} [NL.] (Old Chem.) See {Microcosmic salt},
      under {Microcosmic}.

   {Sal plumbi} [NL.] (Old Chem.), sugar of lead.

   {Sal prunella}. (Old Chem.) See {Prunella salt}, under 1st
      {Prunella}.

   {Sal Saturni} [NL.] (Old Chem.), sugar of lead, or lead
      acetate; -- the alchemical name of lead being Saturn.

   {Sal sedativus} [NL.] (Old Chem.), sedative salt, or boric
      acid.

   {Sal Seignette} [F. seignette, sel de seignette] (Chem.),
      Rochelle salt.

   {Sal soda} (Chem.), sodium carbonate. See under {Sodium}.

   {Sal vitrioli} [NL.] (Old Chem.), white vitriol; zinc
      sulphate.

   {Sal volatile}. [NL.]
   (a) (Chem.) See {Sal ammoniac}, above.
   (b) Spirits of ammonia.

Source : WordNet®

Artemisia absinthium
     n : aromatic herb of temperate Eurasia and North Africa having a
         bitter taste used in making the liqueur absinthe [syn: {common
         wormwood}, {absinthe}, {old man}, {lad's love}]