eryngo
(iːˈrɪŋgəʊ)
Also 6–8 eringo, 6–7 aphet. ringo.
[Immediate source uncertain: perhaps a corrupt adoption of It. or Sp. eringio, ad. L. ēryngion, a. Gr. ἠρύγγιον, dim. of ἤρυγγος the name of this plant, also a goat's beard.]
1. † a. The candied root of the Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum), formerly used as a sweetmeat, and regarded as an aphrodisiac. Obs. b. In later use, the plant itself, or any other of the same genus. (In this sense the L. eryngium was used by earlier writers.)
| a. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 23 Let it..haile kissing Comfits, and snow Eringoes. 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie i. iii. 181 Camphire and Lettuce chaste Are clean casheird, now Sophi Ringoes eate. 1616 R. C. Times' Whis. vi. 2771 Candid eringoes, and rich marchpaine stuff. c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §277 (1810) 288 Sea-holly groweth plentifully, whose roots are called eringo. 1681 Otway Soldier's Fort. v, Here child, here's some Ringoes. 1709 Pope Jan. & May 377 Satyrion near, with hot Eringo's stood. |
| b. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. ii. iv. §4. 94 Eringo, an Herb. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. v. 439 In verdant Samphire and Eringo drest. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 120 Eryngo grows in sandy places, and near the Sea-Shore. 1798 Canning New Morality in Anti-Jacobin No. 36 (1852) 212 Eringoes o'er the hallow'd spot shall bloom. 1861 [see eryngium]. |
2. attrib.,
esp. eryngo-root.
| 1634–5 Althorp MS. in Simpkinson Washingtons (1860) p. lxix, For ashen keyes and eringo rootes. 1656 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 332 Colchester..is also famous for oysters and Eringo root. 1709 Prior Paulo Purganti 72 One might see Eringo Roots and Bohé Tea. 1848 C. A. Johns Week at Lizard 283 Candied Eryngo-root. |