hermodactyl Obs. exc. Hist.
(hɜːməʊˈdæktɪl)
Also 4 ermodattile, 5 hermodactule, 6 -ill, 6–8 -il(e, 8 -yle.
[ad. med.L. hermodactylus, a. Gr. ἑρµοδάκτυλος lit. Hermes' finger.]
1. A bulbous root, probably that of a species of Colchicum, formerly imported from the East and used in medicine. Also, the plant itself.
| c 1350 Med. MS. in Archæol. XXX. 380 Medelyd w{supt} rosalgere And ermodattilis of on ȝere. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 236 Also take..hermodactulis wiþ sugre & coold watir. c 1550 Lloyd Treas. Health (1585) Q vi, A plaster made of the rote of walwort and Hermodactiles stampte wyth Hogges grese. 1616 J. Bullokar Eng. Expos., Hermodactiles, little roots white, and round, solde by Apothecaries, etc. 1681 tr. Willis' Rem. Med. Wks. Vocab., Hermodactils, or mercuries finger, white and red. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Head ach, [To clear the Brain] you may take two Drams of Hermodactil, with some Betony and Pimpernel-Leaves. 1847 E. J. Seymour Severe Dis. I. 90 It was found..that this plant existed in Greek physic under the name of hermodactyls. |
2. Applied by Lyte to the Meadow Saffron, Colchicum autumnale; and later to the Snake's-head Iris, Iris tuberosa (Hermodactylus tuberosus), which was supposed to be the source of the drug.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens iii. xxxv. 366 Of Hermodactil or Mede Saffron. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 199 March..Flowers in Prime, or yet lasting, Chelidonium small with double Flowers, Hermodactyls, Tuberous Iris. 1768 Miller Gard. Dict. (ed. 8), Hermodactylus,..by some botanic writers..supposed the true Hermodactyl, but what has been long used in Europe for that is the root of a Colchicum. |