any of several plants of the genus Teucrium, esp T. chamaedrys (wall germander) of Europe, having two-lipped flowers with a very small upper lip: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
Word origin
C15: from Medieval Latin germandrea, from Late Greek khamandrua, from Greek khamaidrus, from khamai on the ground + drus oak tree
germander in American English
(dʒərˈmændər)
noun
any of a genus (Teucrium) of plants of the mint family, with spikes of flowers that lack an upper lip
Word origin
ME germandre < OFr germandree < ML germandra < Gr chamaidrys < chamai, on the ground (< IE base *ĝhm-, ĝhthem- > L humus & OE guma, man) + drys, tree