elecampane
(ˌɛlɪkæmˈpeɪn)
Forms: 6 ely-, (alecampane, alacompane, heli-, hilicampana), 6–7 elicampane, 7 elecampana, elecompane, elecampany, elicumpany, helicampane, elcampane, 8 elecampain, (9 elicampene, alycompaine, alicompayne, allicampane), 6– elecampane. Also 7 enulacampane.
[corruptly ad. med.L. enula compāna. The n. enula is a late form of the classical inula. The pseudo-Apuleius (4th c.) and later writers identify the plant with the helenium described by Pliny; hence Linnæus adopted helenium as the specific name. In OE. inula was (corruptly) adopted as eolone (:—earlier *iluna). The adj. campana may mean ‘Campanian’, or it may have the late sense ‘of the fields’; the latter interpretation was current in 14th c., as Glanvil distinguishes two species, hortulana and campana.]
1. A perennial composite plant, Horse-heal (Inula Helenium), with very large yellow radiate flowers and bitter aromatic leaves and root; formerly used as a tonic and stimulant.
| [1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. lviii. (1495) 636 Enula is an herbe and is oft callyd Enula campana. ? 1540 Treas. of Poore Men 62 Elena campana.] 1533 Elyot Cast. Helth (1541) 91 Drinke therof..with the water of wilde carettes, or elycampane. 1562 W. Bullein Bk. Simples 15 (Britten & Holl.), Enula campana, which we common plain people call Alacompane. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 21 Innula is called..in Englishe Elecampane or Alecampane. 1599 Life Sir T. More in Wordsworth Eccl. Biog. (1853) II. 47 The fume of hilicampana is very pleasing. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 91 Elecampane..sprang first (as men say) from the teares of Ladie Helena. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Countr. Farm 198 The Wine wherein the root of Elicampane hath steept..is singular good against the colicke. 1657 Rumsey Org. Salutis v. (1659) 29 Afterwards eat of the said Cordial made of Enulacampane, etc. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 141 Elecampain grows in many Places of England. 1794 W. F. Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxvi. 393 The true Elecampane is distinguished by its large..wrinkled leaves, downy underneath. 1876 Harley Mat. Med. 532 Elecampane has been prescribed since the time of Hippocrates. |
2. A species of sweetmeat flavoured with a preparation from the root of this plant.
| 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) Post. Groans xxix, Some long-forgotten bonbon of your boyhood (treacle, elecampane, stick liquorice). 1855 Thackeray Newcomes I. 244, I don't know how he spent it except in hard-bake and alycompaine. 1875 F. I. Scudamore Day Dreams 128, I have admired Napoleon in marble, I have eaten him in elecampane. |
b. attrib.
| 1610 Markham Masterp. ii. lii. 298 Powders of brimstone and elecampany roots. 1752 Chambers Cycl. II. s.v. Wine, Elecampane Wine, vinum enulatum, is an infusion of the root of that plant, with sugar and currans, in white port. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 498 Its [Helenin] taste and smell are similar to those of elecampane root. |