- botany
- 1696, from botanic (1656), from Fr. botanique or M.L. botanicus, from Gk. botanikos "of herbs," from botane "a plant, pasture, fodder." The -y is from astronomy, etc. Botanical is recorded from 1658; botanist is attested from 1682. Botany Bay so called by Capt. Cook on account of the great variety of plants found there.