spurge laurel
Also spurge-laurel.
[spurge n.1]
One or other of the shrubs belonging to the genus Daphne, esp. D. laureola, the dried bark of which is used in medicine.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal 1218 Spurge Laurell is a shrub of a cubit high, oftentimes also of two. Ibid. 1219 Laureola florens, Laurell, or Spurge Laurell flowring. 1611 Cotgr., Laureole, Lowrie, Lauriell, spurge Laurell, little Laurell. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 109 Bacciferous sempervirent shrubs..: Spurge Laurel. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. Laurel, The Female Spurge Laurel, has Boughs which grow four Foot high. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 328 Spurge Laurel, Daphne. 1845 Lindley Sch. Bot. 113 Daphne pontica (Long-flowered Spurge Laurel). 1882 Garden 18 Feb. 112/1 The Spurge Laurel and Mezereon have highly fragrant flowers. |