arsesmart Bot.
(ˈɑːsmɑːt)
Forms: 6 arssmart, -mert, arsse-smart, arsmert, 7 asmart, 6–9 arsmart, arsesmart.
[See quot. 1617.]
A name of the plant Water-pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper); also applied by some to the allied species P. Persicaria, called by Gerard ‘Dead Arsemart.’
| 1551 Turner Herbal 133 Arssmert groweth..in watery places. 1572 L. Mascall Govt. Cattle (1627) 190 If your saddle doe chafe your horse, take an hearbe called Arsmart, in Latine Parcicaria, stampe it, and lay it to. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 632 Arsesmart..is lyke to water Pepper..but it is neither hoat nor sharpe. 1617 Minsheu Ductor 544 Arsmart..because if it touch the taile or other bare skinne, it maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to kill fleas. 1639 T. de Grey Compl. Horsem. 83 Take the leaves of Arsmart. 1747 Wesley Princ. Physic (1765) 78 Drink..of Decoction of Arsesmart. 1784 Twamley Dairying 113 Arsmart, or lakeweed, is a bitter plant. 1878 Britten & Holl. Plant-n., Arsesmart. |