tisane

Definition

A medicinal drink, originally made from barley soaked in water.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman tysanne, Middle French ptisane, tisane (“barley water, medicinal drink”), and their source, Latin tisana, variant of ptisana, from Ancient Greek πτισάνη (ptisánē, “peeled barley, barley gruel”), from πτίσσειν (ptíssein, “to peel, to crush”).

Example Sentences

• "Ptisan. A diluent drink which makes a great figure in the dietetic precepts of the ancients."
• "Towards the end of the week the girls complained of violent headaches and restless nights; and before Monday it was very obvious that they were all in a high fever. Tuesday Isabella was delirious, and Mademoiselle Virginie sent the maid to Covent Garden to buy some herbs, which, she said, would form a sovereign tisane."
• "“Neither,” said Poirot, “I shall go to bed and take a tisane. The expected has happened […].”"