comfrey
(ˈkʌmfrɪ, ˈkɒm-)
Forms: 3 cumfirie, 5 confirie, -fyrie, -ye, cowmfory, -phory, 5–6 comfory, -ie, 6 camforye, comferie, cumphorie, 6–8 comfery, 7 camfrey, comfrie, cumfry, -frey, 6– comfrey, -fry.
[a. OF. confirie, confire, confière, in med.L. cumfiria; of obscure etymology.
The L. names of the plant were consolida and conferva; in med.L. also confirma, conserva; all referring to its healing virtues (‘quia habet vim consolidandi’). The F. and Eng. word has been variously viewed as a corruption of confirma, or of conferva, more prob. the latter. An OF. synonym, or name of a species, consire, concire, concierge, was prob. similarly related to conserva. Cf. consound.]
1. The English name of Symphytum officinale (family Boraginaceæ), a tall plant, common on margins of streams and ditches, with rough leaves, and drooping clusters of yellowish-white or reddish-purple bell-shaped flowers; formerly esteemed as a vulnerary. b. Also applied to other species, as tuberous comfrey, S. tuberosum, a similar but smaller plant, with tuberous root; prickly comfrey, S. asperrimum, a native of the Caucasus, cultivated for its handsome blue flowers, and also as a forage-plant. c. wild comfrey (of N. America), Cynoglossum virginicum (Miller Plant-n.).
| [c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 162 Ðeos wyrt þe man confirman & oðrum naman galluc nemneð. Ibid. I. 376 Ad fluxum sanguinis.—Accipe de confirma, hoc est consolida.] |
| c 1265 Plant Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 555 Cumfiria, cumfirie, galloc. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 97 Cow(m)fory, herbe, consolida major, et minor dicitur daysy. c 1450 Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.) 9 Anagallicum..Gall. (et angl.) confirie uel cornsilie [v.r. anglice counsilie]. c 1450 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 574/40 Confiria, anglice confyrye, confyrie. 1530 Palsgr. 202/2 Camforye herbe, la grande consolde. 1567 Baker Jewell of Health 53 The water of the greater Comferie druncke, helpeth such as are bursten, and that haue broken the bone of the legge. 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. ciii. 145 The rootes of Comfery..healeth all inwarde woundes, and burstings. 1671 Salmon Syn. Med. iii. xxii. 396 Comfrey..it is a Wound-herb. 1888 Times 3 Jan. 10/1 Cultivating prickly comfrey, found to be a most profitable crop, well suited for fodder. 1888 Daily News 21 June 2/1 The comfreys are opening by the margin of the stream. |
† 2. Applied to other plants, chiefly as a rendering of L.
Consolida or
Symphytum:
middle c., the Bugle,
Ajuga reptans;
Saracen's c., the Broadleaved Groundsel,
Senecio saracenicus;
spotted c.,
wild c., the Lungwort,
Pulmonaria officinalis (see also 1 c.).
Obs.| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. lxxxv. 125 Of some it is called in Latine Symphitum Syluestre, whiche may be Englisshed wilde Comfrey..we call it in English Sage of Jerusalem, & Cowslip of Jerusalem. Ibid. i. xc. 133 It is called Consolida media: in English Middell Consounde, or Middle Comfery, and Bugle. Ibid. i. xcix. 141 This herbe is now called in Latine..Consolida Sarracenica..in English Sarrasines Consounde or Sarrasines Comfery. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 72/2 The spotted Comfery is the Cowslip of Jerusalem. |
3. attrib.| 1572 L. Mascall Govt. Cattle, Oxen (1627) 79 Giue him to drinke of Cumphorie hearbe stamped with milke or ale, for that will helpe to knit the bones. 1597 Gerarde Herbal 661 It is called..in English Comfrey, Comfrey Consound, of some Knit backe. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 118 Boil Comfrey Roots to a thick Mucilage. |