spignel
(ˈspɪgnəl)
Forms: α. 6 spignale, 6–7 spignell, 7 spygnal, 6–7, 9 spignel. β. 6 speknel, specknell, spiknel, 6–7 spicknell, 6–9 spicknel, 9 spikenel.
[Of obscure origin; perh. a later form of spigurnel1.]
† 1. The aromatic root of the umbelliferous plant Meum athamanticum, used, when dried and ground, in medicine as a carminative or stimulant, or as a spice in cookery. Obs.
| 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 188 Take cloues and gelofre,..gynger and spignale,..and temper hem with good wyne. 1577 Richmond Wills (Surtees) 269 For arseneck xij{supd}. Spicknell, turmirick, and galingall ijs. 1592 Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees, 1860) 212 One pound and a half specknell, 2s. 1610 Markham Masterp. i. xl. 82 A penny worth of Galingal, two peniworth of spygnal of Spaine. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 169 Spignel..has an aromatick Pungency in its Scent, but also somewhat fetid. |
2. The plant itself; meum; baldmoney.
| α 1579 Langham Gard. Health 390 Meu, Meon, or Spignel, boyle or soke the roots in water, and drinke it to open mightely the stoppings of the kidneys and bladder. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. ii. iv. 90 Umbelliferous herbs whose Leaves are more Finely cut into narrow segments..: Spignel. Bishopsweed. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 43 Which has made some believe that Spignel was a species of Fennil or Dill. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 327 Spignel, Athamanta. 1822–7 Good Study Med. (1829) V. 53 The athamanta meum, or spignel, which once rivalled the reputation of madder, seems to have a peculiar influence in stimulating the lower viscera. 1861 S. Thomson Wild Fl. (ed. 4) III. 296 The root[s]..of the meum or spignel..have..been held in esteem. |
| β 1548 Turner Names Herbes 53 Meum..I neuer sawe thys herbe in Englande sauynge once at saynte Oswarldes where as the inhabiters called it Speknel. 1562 ― Herbal ii. (1568) 56 Y⊇ Spiknel of England (which peraduenture was ones called Spiknard). 1601 Holland Pliny II. 77 Meu or Spicknell is not found in Italy, vnlesse it be in some Physitians garden. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v., Spicknel or Spignel. 1866 Treas. Bot. 1083/2 Spikenel, or Spicknel, Meum Athamanticum. |
b. Applied, with distinguishing terms, to other plants allied to or resembling this, as
bastard spignel,
mountain spignel,
parsley spignel,
wild spignel (see
quots.).
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. ccccix. 895 It is called..in English Spignell, or Spicknell... The second may be called bastard Baldmony, or bastard Spicknell. 1713 Phil. Trans. XXVIII. 190 Parsley Spignel. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 327 Spignel, Wild, Seseli. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 294 Athamanta Libanotis,..Mountain Spignel or Stone Parsley. |