celandine
(ˈsɛləndaɪn)
Forms: 4 celydoine, -oyne, 5 celydon, -oun, celidoyne, 6 celidone, celandyne, selandine, 5–7 celondine, sellondine, salandine, sal-, sall-, selendyne, -ine, solydyne, 6–7 celendine, 8, 9 dial. celadine, 6– celandine. See also celidony1.
[ME. celydoine, a. OF. celidoine:—late L. celidonia, Lat. chelidonia (-onium), ad. Gr. χελιδόνιον, f. χελιδών swallow.
In reference to the name, ancient writers stated that the flower appeared at the time of the arrival of the swallows, and withered at their departure. The story of the use made of the juice by swallows (see quot. 1601 in 1 a) was probably suggested by the name. For the intrusive n cf. messenger, passenger.]
1. The name of two distinct plants, bearing yellow flowers; by the old herbalists regarded as species of the same plant, and identified (probably correctly) with the ‘greater and lesser chelidonia’ of ancient writers. a. Common or Greater Celandine, Chelidonium majus (family Papaveraceæ); called by Lyte swallow-wort. Its thick yellow juice was formerly supposed to be a powerful remedy for weak sight.
| a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. 26 With celydoyne ant sauge. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 131 His [i.e. Ariel's] herbe also..Is celidoine freshe and grene. c 1430 Bk. Hawkyng in Rel. Ant. I. 297 Take the jus of salendyne. c 1450 Nominale in Wr.-Wülcker 712, Hec celidonia, celydoun. 1486 Bk. St. Albans B iv b, Take the Juce of Salandyne and wete a morcell of flesh therin. 1538 Turner Libellus, Celendyne. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 67, I sau celidone, that is gude to help the sycht of the ene. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 15 b, The iuice of Selendine..maketh the eysight clere. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 224 The great Celendine, called in Greek Chelidonia, for that the old Swallows with the helpe of this hearb helpe their young ones to see again. 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶79 Celandin weepeth a golden juice. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 135 The juice of Common Celandine is of a bright orange colour. |
b. Small or Lesser Celandine, the Pilewort or Figwort, Ranunculus Ficaria.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xx. 32 The small Celandyne was so called, bycause that it beginneth to spring and to floure, at the comming of the Swallowes. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Countr. Farm 197 The small Celandine, otherwise called Pilewort. 1775 Ash, Celadine, the name of a plant, pilewort, chelidonium. 1803 Wordsw. To Small Celandine, There's a flower that shall be mine, 'Tis the little Celandine. 1859 Lewes Sea-side Stud. 189 The dog-violet and the celandine are gay with colour. |
† 2. brave celandine: applied by Lyte to the Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris. Obs.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xx. 31 There is another herbe much like to small Celandyne in leaues and floures, the which we may call Marsh Marygolde, or Brave Celandyne. |
3. tree-celandine: Bocconia frutescens of the W. Indies. (Treas. Bot.)