tansy noun. ['tanzi] ME.
[Old French tanesie (mod. tanaisie), perh. aphet. from medieval Latin athanasia from Greek = immortality.]
1. An aromatic bitter-tasting herb of the composite family, Tanacetum vulgare, with pinnatisect leaves and terminal corymbs of yellow rayless button-like flowers, formerly widely used in medicine and cookery. ME.
b. With specifying word: any of various plants resembling tansy in foliage, smell, etc. LME.
wild tansy silverweed, Potentilla anserina.

2. A cake, omelette, or other dish flavoured with juice of tansy, eaten esp. at Easter. Now chiefly Hist. LME.
like a tansy done etc. to perfection, completely satisfactory.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲