https://www.imogencunningham.com/library-botanicals
The word botanical comes from the Greek word:
botanē (βοτάνη) — meaning plant, grass, herb, or pasture.
That Greek root evolved into:
- botanikos — “of plants”
- then Latin botanicus
- then French botanique
- eventually English botanical
The deeper root is connected to:
- boskein — “to feed” or “to graze”
So originally, the idea behind botanical was tied not just to plants themselves, but to:
- things that grow,
- things that nourish,
- vegetation used for grazing or sustenance.
That’s why words like:
- botany → the study of plants
- botanical garden → a cultivated collection of plants
- botanist → one who studies plants
all carry this ancient association with growth, nourishment, and living vegetation.
There’s something beautiful about the etymology because it connects plants to the idea of feeding life itself.