reseda

noun

1. Any of various plants of the genus Reseda having small, pale grayish green flowers, such as dyer's rocket (Reseda luteola) and mignonette (Reseda odorata).

   “Reſeda […] An herbe that hath a ſtalke like knots and joynts, a leafe like a nettle, and white in the middle.”

   “A little work on bees which I read some time ago, states that bees collect pollen only on flowers of the same species, in order not to mix the pollen of different flowers together, and I have several times observed this statement as perfectly true during the time when resedas, roses, and geraniums adorned a bed close to a bee-hive. The same bee or humble-bee which had been on a reseda would only visit resedas, another only geraniums, &c.”

2. (specifically)Mignonette (Reseda odorata).

   “About the middle of this month, if the ſeaſon proves favourable, you may plant out your hardy annuals, ſuch as Marvel of Peru, Sweet Sultan, China After or Starwort, Sweet Reſeda called Mignonette d'Egypt, French and African Marigolds, Female Balſamine, Capſicum, Brown Jolly, and ſeveral other ſorts, which, if artfully diſpoſed, will afford an agreeable pleaſure, after the beauty of ſpring is paſt; […]”

   “Reseda or mignonette is grown in the Grasse region [of France]. The tendency for green notes in recent years has given fresh interest to the reseda note. Absolute oil of reseda has an odour recalling that of violet leaves, but with a rather fine 'powdery' background and a suggestion of rose and a little basil.”

3. A pale greyish-green colour like the flowers of a reseda plant; mignonette.

adj

1. (not-comparable)Having a pale greyish-green colour like the flowers of a reseda plant; mignonette.

   “By mixing a weaker bath than the one indicated the cotton dyes up a dark green, and the wool acquires a dull and weak reseda shade.”

   “Sateens a 1s. 4½d., 32in. wide, will be very useful, and always look nice, whether as whole or part dresses. There is one of French grey that has a most satin like surface, and another of reseda shade, which is again likely to have a run as a fashionable colour.”

name

1. A neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, United States.

   “It's a long day, livin' in Reseda / There's a freeway, runnin' through the yard”

   “You are going to Reseda to make love to a model from Ohio / Whose real name you don’t know”