A very brief history of clove in Europe and Indonesia with particular reference to Dutch monopoly of clove in the spice islands, the Moluccas, is presented. The etymology of clove originates from the Greek word karuóphullon (káruon=nut+phúllon=leaf) and the Latin word caryophyllon, which were transformed to clou de girofle in Old French and clow of gilofer in Middle English. Further modification resulted in a separation into clove and gilly-flower.