ˈfeatherfew
Forms: 4 feþerfoy, 5 federfu, fedyrfoy, 6–8 fetherfew, 7– featherfew.
[Corrupted var. of feverfew.]
The popular name of Pyrethrum Parthenium.
| c 1325 St. Patrick's Purg. cxlvii, Mint, feþerfoy and eglentere. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 152/2 Fedyrfu, or fedyrfoy, herbe, febriffuga. 1587 L. Mascall Govt. Cattle (1627) 99 If beasts bee sicke yee shall giue them madder, long pepper, the barke of a walnut tree, with fetherfew. 1683 Tryon Way to Health 552 Herbs..of a strong bitter Quality, as Worm⁓wood, Featherfew, Tansie, and the like. c 1759 Roxb. Ball. VII. 57 Here's fetherfew, gilliflowers and rue. 1863 R. Prior Plant-n., Featherfew..the feverfew..from confusion of name with the feather foil. [An erroneous statement.] |