marjoram

[ Ger.major an; Ital. major an a, magg i or an a, Spanish major an a, mejorana; Port. maiorana, manger on a, amaraco; Fr. marjolaine, from Lat. amaracus; Gr. amarakos, amarakon, the Persian and Egyptian species of which were probably akin to our own marjoram, the Greek one=a bulbous plant.] Bot.: The genus Origanum. Common Marjoram is Origanum vulgare . It has broadly-ovate, obtuse, entire, or toothed leaves, and roundish panicled heads of purple, odoriferous flowers. It is found in Europe, the north of Africa, and Asia. The dried leaves are used instead of tea, and in fomentations; the e ential oil is caustic and is used by farriers; a little cotton-wool moistened with it and placed in mark the cavity of an aching tooth will often give relief. Country people use it to dye woolen cloth purple, and linen reddish-brown. Goats and sheep eat it, horses do so to a le extent, but cattle will not feed on it. The Cretan Marjoram is Origanum creticum , the Egyptian Marjoram, O. ægyptiacum , the Knotted Marjoram, O. major an a , and Winter Sweet Marjoram, O. heracleoticum . mark (1), *marc s. [A. S. marc, pl. marcan; cogn. with Ger. mark; Icel. mörk.] 1. A weight still used in some parts of Europe, especially for gold and silver. It varies in different countries. 2. The name of several coins, formerly or still in use; as, *(1) An English coin, value 13s. 4d. sterling, or $3.20. "Thre you sand marke he gaf with testament fulle right, To Petir and Paule of Rome." Robert de Brunne , p. 20. (2) A German coin, value about 24 cents. It is divisible into 100 pfennige. (3) The old unit of value in Hamburg, value about 27 cents. To a great extent superseded by the new monetary system of Germany. *(4) The sixth part of the Danish rigsdale, value nearly 9 cents. *(5) The fifth part of the Norwegian specie daler, called also the ort, value 21 cents.