Also (6–8 tarchon), 6–9 taragon. [Given in 1538–48 as the English for med.L. tragonia and tarchon: cf. 16th-c. F. targon (Rabelais, Cotgr., 1611), It. taracone, tarcone (Florio, 1598, 1611), Sp. taragontia, -goncia (Matthioli, 16th c., Percival, Minsheu). Tarchon appears in the Latin version of Symeon Sethus De Cibariis (Basle, 1538), repr. Byzantine Gr. ταρχών. Sethus compiled from Arab sources, and his ταρχών represented Arab. ṭarkhōn (in Ibn Beithar, Avicenna, Razi), altarcon in Gerard of Cremona, a. 1187; according to Arabic lexicographers a foreign word: some think ad. Gr. δράκων (Devic), by an early association, similar to what is found in the 16th c., with the Gr. δράκοντιον, -οντία (Hippocr., Diosc.), the name of Arum Dracunculus.
The two plants were included by Matthioli, 1565, under Δρακοντία, Dracunculus, the Tarragon being distinguished as Hortensis Dracunculus; he also gives, as including both, It. dragontéa, Sp. taragontia, F. serpentine, all originally names of Arum Dracunculus. This association is commemorated in the botanical names Artemisia Dracunculus and Arum Dracunculus (now Dracunculus vulgaris), as well as in 16–17th-c. applications of the name DRAGON, DRAGONS. The 16th-c. herbalists’ L. Tragonia, and the Sp. estragon, Pg. estragão, F. estragon, are all derived from tragon, targon, tarchon; the 16th-c. Sp. taragoncia and mod. Sp. taragona show the nearest relationship to the Eng. name.]
1. A plant, Artemisia Dracunculus, N.O. Compositæ, of the wormwood genus, a native of Southern Russia and Eastern Europe, the aromatic leaves of which are used to flavor salads, soups, etc.
1538. Elyot, Tragonia, an herbe nowe callid Taragon, late sene in this realme, whiche hath a tast like gynger.
1548. Turner, Names of Herbs, Tarchon … is called wyth vs Tarragon.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 630. Tarragon is good in Sallads with Lettuse as Rocket is.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., II. 202. Tarragon is one of the perfuming or Spicy Furnitures of our Sallets.
1706. Phillips (ed. 6), Tarchon, Taracon, or Garden-Dragon, an Herb.
1767. Abercrombie, Ev. Man his own Gard. (1803), 668/1. Tarragon: fine flavoured aromatic plant, to improve the flavour of soups and sallads.
1882. Garden, 21 Jan., 50/1. Keep up good supplies of Tarragon and small salads.
† 2. Sometimes applied (by confusion of names) to the Garden Dragon, Dracunculus vulgaris, N.O. Araceæ, or the Green Dragon, Arisæma Dracontium, N.O. Orontiaceæ: see DRAGONS. Obs.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Taragontia, taragon, Draguntea.
1598. Florio, Taracone,… the hearbe Taragon or garden Dragon.
3. attrib., as tarragon leaf; tarragon vinegar, vinegar flavored with the leaves or oil of tarragon.
1855. Delamer, Kitch. Gard. (1861), 138. Tarragon vinegar, pickled tarragon leaves, and sometimes the fresh green leaves in salad, are … powerful agents in the hands of a skilful and judicious cook.
1883. W. Williams, in Knowledge, 20 July, 35/2. Stock broth, tarragon vinegar, ketchup, &c.
