† petigrew, pettigree Obs.
Also 6 petygrew, petigrue, -gre(e.
[f. petit, petty a. + Pr. greù, agreù holly (also grevel, agreveu, agrafel, agrafuelh, Mistral) = Gascon agreu, Cat. grevol (Körting):—L. acrifolium holly (f. acri-s sharp, piercing + folium leaf): cf. aquifolium (for *acui-, acifolium) holly. Petit greù may itself occur in Pr., as the equivalent of F. petit houx ‘little holly’, synon. of brusc, butcher's broom.]
A name for Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus).
| 1538 Turner Libellus, Ruscus..Humile officinæ uocant bruscum, angli Butchers broome, & Petygrew. 1548 ― Names of Herbes 69 Petigrue groweth in Kent wilde by hedge sydes. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. cccxxiv. 760 It is called..in English Kneeholme..and Petigree. 1611 Cotgr., Petit houx, Kneeholme, Pettigree, Butchers Broome. |