lovage

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman luvesche, from Old English lufestice, from Medieval Latin levistica, from Late Latin levisticum, alteration of Latin ligusticum, from neuter of Ligusticus, Ligurian, from Ligurēs, the Ligurians.]

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Herb of the carrot family, Ligusticum scoticum, with a strong scent of celery. The stems can be candied like angelica or used as a vegetable, and the leaves and stems are used in soup. The seeds can also be used as a seasoning, with a flavour like dill or fennel seed.

[LUHV-ihj] The French call lovage céleri bâtard, "false celery," because of its strong resemblance to that plant. Lovage has been used since Greek and Roman times for everything from a seasoning, to a curative for maladies ranging from indigestion to freckles, to a love potion. It grows up to 7 feet high and has large, dark green, celerylike leaves. The flavor of the pale stalks is that of very strong celery. The leaves, seeds and stalks can be used (in small amounts because of their potent flavor) in salads, stews and other dishes such as fowl and game. The stalks can be cooked as a vegetable. Dried lovage leaves and chopped or powdered stalks can be found in natural food stores and gourmet markets. The seeds are commonly called celery seed. Lovage is also called smallage and smellage.