Obs. [As the name appears also to have the variant tol-me-neer ‘entice me near,’ Dr. Prior has suggested that colmenier stands for cull-me-near; cf. Cull me to you as a name of the Heart’s-ease (Gerard 703 and 855).] Old name of the Sweet William or a variety of it.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. vii. 155. Sweete William or Colmenier … is also somwhat like to the cloaue Gillofers. Ibid., II. vii. 157. There is a kind of this herbe [sweete Williams] which is common in the countrey gardens, and they call it Colmeniers. Ibid., II. viii. 157. (Floure Constantinople) Many [flowers] clustering togither after the manner of Tol-me-neers, or sweete Williams.
