catmint
UK[ˈkætmɪnt]US[ˈkætmɪnt]
n
a low-growing plant of the mint family, with fragrant leaves that are attractive to cats.
Morpheme Breakdown
cat
mint
cat
mint
Etymology
the word 'catmint' is a transparent english compound, formed by directly combining the common noun 'cat' with the plant name 'mint'. this straightforward naming convention highlights the plant's most notable characteristic: its strong, intoxicating effect on domestic cats. the 'mint' component traces back to the latin 'mentha', a term for aromatic plants of the lamiaceae family, while 'cat' is a germanic word of uncertain ultimate origin. the compound thus logically denotes 'the mint that affects cats', a name rooted in observable animal behavior rather than classical morphology.
Analysis
Structure: cat + mint
cat (old english, 'catt', meaning the domestic feline animal) + mint (old english, 'minte', from latin 'mentha', referring to the aromatic herb).
Examples
the garden was filled with the silvery-green foliage of catmint.
my cat rolls around ecstatically whenever i bring home fresh catmint.
catmint is often used in herbal teas and as an ornamental border plant.