† ˈpestilence-wort Herb. Obs.
Also 7– pestilent-wort.
[ad. Ger. pestilenzwurz, pestwurz, from its repute against the Plague.]
A bookname for the Butterbur, Petasites vulgaris.
| α [1548 Turner Names of Herbes (E.D.S.) 61 Petasites is called in the South partes of Englande a Butter bur,..the duch cal it pestilentz kraute [1562 ― Herbal ii. 83 Pestilentz wurtz]. 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xiii. 21 In Englishe Butter Burre: in high Douch Pestilentz-wurtz: in base Almaigne..Pestilentie wortel.] 1640 Parkinson Theat. Bot. Table 1742 Pestilence wort is the Butter Burre. 1841 W. H. Ainsworth Old St. Paul's I. 232 He likewise collected a number of herbs and simples, as Virginian snake weed, contrayerva, pestilence-wort, angelica, elicampane. |
| β 1597 Gerarde Herbal Table Eng. Names, Pestilent woorts, that is water Burre Docke. 1617 Minsheu Ductor, Pestilent woorts..i. herba pestilentialis: quia radix huius multum valet contra pestem. 1766 Museum Rust. VI. 450 Butter-bur or Pestilent-wort, resembles Colt's-foot in many respects; but the flowers are purple, and grow in a thyrse. |