ribwort
(ˈrɪbwɜːt)
Also 5–6 ribbe-, rybbe-, ryb-; 3 -uurt, 6 -wurte, 7 -wurt; 5–7 -worte, 6 -woorte.
[f. rib n.1 or n.2 + wort. Cf. MLG. ribbewort, ribwort; G. rippenwurz.]
The Narrow-leaved Plantain (Plantago lanceolata); ribgrass.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 433/1 Rybbeworte, herbe, lanciola. c 1450 M.E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 126 Take þe jus of weybrode & of rybbewort. 1530 Palsgr. 262/2 Rybbe worte, an herbe. 1548 [see ribgrass 1]. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. xciii. 341 Ribwoorte or small Plantaine, hath many leaues flat spred vpon the ground. 1629 Parkinson Paradisi lxxxv. 352 Rose Plantane..is in all things like vnto the ordinary Plantane or Ribworte. 1671 Salmon Syn. Med. iii. xxii. 424 Ribwort..stops Fluxes and the Termes and is of the nature of Plantain. 1763 Mills Pract. Husb. III. 345, I do not know that the narrow leaved plantain, or ribwort (Plantago angustifolia) hath ever been cultivated purposely for the food of cattle. 1784 Twamley Dairying Exemp. 113 Ribwort, ribbed grass, black plantain or cock plant. 1813 Vancouver Agric. Devon 220 Ribwort, white clover, and many other valuable grasses, are found to grow for the first period of perhaps two or three years. |
| attrib. 1711 Petiver Gazophyl. 9/1 Cape Cats-foot with Ribwort-leaves. 1849 Balfour Man. Bot. §978 Plantaginaceæ, the Ribwort Family. 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 606 Plantaginaceæ.—The Ribwort Order. |
b. So
ribwort plantain.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. xciii. 341 Plantago quinqueneruia, Ribwoorte Plantaine. 1611 Cotgr., Lancelée, Rib⁓wort Plantaine, Lambes-tongue. 1696 Floyer Anim. Humours x. 129 Plantane boiled in Broths, and Ribwort Plantane. 1805 R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. II. 836 Rib⁓wort Plantain..is a plant much relished by neat cattle and horses. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 222 Ribwort Plantain..is a common plant of pastures. |
c. A plant belonging to the N.O.
Plantaginaceæ.
| 1846 Lindley Veg. Kingd. 642 There is nothing to distinguish the corolla of Ribworts from the part so called in other plants except its..want of vascular texture. |