Word Study
pellitory
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun pellitory has 2 senses
- pellitory(n = noun.plant) parietaria difussa, pellitory-of-the-wall, wall pellitory - herb that grows in crevices having long narrow leaves and small pink apetalous flowers; Array is a kind of herb, herbaceous plant
- pellitory(n = noun.plant) anacyclus pyrethrum, pellitory-of-spain - a small Mediterranean plant containing a volatile oil once used to relieve toothache; Array is a member of anacyclus, genus anacyclus
is a member of genus parietaria, parietaria
is a kind of herb, herbaceous plant
CIDE DICTIONARY
pellitory, n. [OE. paritorie, OF. paritoire, F. pariétaire; (cf. It. & Sp. parietaria), L. parietaria the parietary, or pellitory, the wall plant, fr. parietarius belonging to the walls, fr. paries, parietis a wall. Cf. Parietary.].
The common name of the several species of the genus Parietaria , low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; -- also called wall pellitory , and lichwort . [1913 Webster]
" Parietaria officinalis is common on old walls in Europe; Parietaria pennsylvanica is found in the United States ; and six or seven more species are found near the Mediterranean , or in the Orient ."
[1913 Webster]
pellitory, n. [Sp. pelitre, fr. L. pyrethrum. See Bertram.].
A composite plant (Anacyclus Pyrethrum ) of the Mediterranean region, having finely divided leaves and whitish flowers. The root is the officinal pellitory, and is used as an irritant and sialogogue. Called also bertram , and pellitory of Spain . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
pellitory, n. any of several wild plants, esp.:
1 (in full pellitory of Spain) a composite plant, Anacyclus pyrethrum, with a pungent-flavoured root, used as a local irritant etc.
2 (in full pellitory of the wall) a low bushy plant, Parietaria judaica, with greenish flowers growing on or at the foot of walls.
1 (in full pellitory of Spain) a composite plant, Anacyclus pyrethrum, with a pungent-flavoured root, used as a local irritant etc.
2 (in full pellitory of the wall) a low bushy plant, Parietaria judaica, with greenish flowers growing on or at the foot of walls.
Etymology
(sense 1) alt. f. ME f. OF peletre, peretre f. L pyrethrum f. Gk purethron feverfew: (sense 2) ult. f. OF paritaire f. LL parietaria f. L paries -etis wall
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