ajowan

noun

aj·​o·​wan

ˈa-jə-ˌwän

variants or ajowan seed or ajwain

ˈəj-ˌwīn 

or ajwain seed or less commonly aiwain or aiwain seed

ˈī-ˌwīn

plural -s

: the pungent seedlike fruit of an annual Indian herb (Trachyspermum ammi synonym Carum copticum of the family Umbelliferae, the carrot family) that is used especially as a seasoning and for its medicinal properties

Perfumy ajowan, a spice related to cumin and caraway but that tastes more like thyme, enhances the flavor of the delicate scallops …

—Heather McPherson, Orlando (Florida) Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2000

Ajwain seed oil and thymol are known to possess a number of functional properties, namely antimicrobial, antiflatulent, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, diuretic, stimulant, carminative, and expectorant.

—C. U. Rajeshwari et al., in Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention, 2011

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

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