pomander

Meaning

Noun

• A mixture of aromatic substances, made into a ball and carried by a person to impart a sweet smell or as a protection against infection.
• A small case in which an aromatic ball was carried.
• A perforated container filled with pot-pourri for placing in a drawer, wardrobe, room, etc., to provide a sweet smell.
• An apple or orange studded with cloves used for the same purpose.

Origin

• From Old French pome d'embre, from Medieval Latin pōmum dē ambra: pōmum (possibly from *po-emo); ambra (probably from ambrosia, from Ancient Greek ἄμβροτος ("divine, immortal; belonging to the gods"), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥mr̥tós ("immortal")).