Any aquatic plant of the labiate genus Mentha; chiefly the Bergamot Mint (Mentha aquatica) or the Brook-mint (M. hirsuta).
In the 17th c. water-mint and water-cress were sometimes treated as synonyms; it is not clear which of these names was used incorrectly.
1542. Elyot, Dict., Sisymbrium,… water mynte.
1548. Turner, Names of Herbes, 74. Sisymbrium hortense is called in englishe, baume Mynte, or water Mynte.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 136/1. Sisymbrium, offic. balsamita,… water mints.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccxvii. 555. Of Horse Mint or Water Mint. 1 Mentha aquatica. Water mint. 2 Sisymbria Mentha Sweete Water Mint. Ibid. Water Mint is a kinde of wilde Mint.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 540. The hearbe called water-minte, or water Cresses,… anointed vpon the … wounds which come by the venemous teeth of a Shrew, will very effectually cure the paine thereof.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 518. As wee see that Water-Mint turneth into Field Mint; And the Colewort into Rape by Neglect, &c.
1758. Borlase, Nat. Hist. Cornw., 230. Water-mint of a spicey smell.
1819. Keats, Song of Four Faeries, 34. ’Mid water-mint and cresses dim.
1899. Bridges, New Poems, Idle Flowers, 11. With Comfrey, Watermint, Loose-strife and Meadowsweet.
