Forms as in prec.
1. The seed of the anise, used as a carminative, and in the preparation of Oil of Anise, Spirit of Anise, Anise water, and Anisette.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. lxxxi. (1495), 653. Some greyne and sede is gendred in plantis wythout coddys: as it faryth in Annes sede.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Aneys seede or spyce, Anetum, anisum.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 30. For the dropsie, fill an old Cock with Polipody and Anniseeds, and seethe him well, and drinke the broth.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. I. iii. 438. Such and such plants, should haue a peculiar vertue to such particular parts, as to the head, Anniseeds, foalfoot, [etc.].
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Anise, Spanish Aniseed … is the best.
1882. Chem. & Drugg., XXIV. 61/1. One pound bottle of oil of aniseed.
b. attrib., as in aniseed-tree, water.
1698. Congreve, Way of World, IV. v. I banish … all aniseed, cinnamon, citron and Barbadoes-waters.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., In distilling the anise-seed for the oil, there is procured a limpid water called anise-seed water, which has much the same virtues with the oil.
1838. [See ANISE 3].
2. = ANISETTE, rare.
1756. Nugent, Grand Tour, IV. 204. They sell a great quantity of comfits in Verdun, and particularly their aniseeds are in great reputation.
1855. Costello, Stor. Screen, 122. The air was redolent of gin…; aniseed was preferred by some (these were ladies).
