betony Bot.
(ˈbɛtənɪ)
Forms: (1 betonice), 4–6 betone, 5 betan, batany, 5–6 betany, betayne, betonye, 6 bittonie, byten, bytone, betain(e, 6–7 betonie, 7 bettony, 5– betony.
[a. F. bétoine, ad. late L. *betonia for betonica, written by Pliny (N.H. xxv. 46) vettonica, and said by him to be a Gaulish name for a plant discovered by a Spanish tribe called Vettones. (Previously in OE. in the Latin form betonica.)]
1. prop. A plant (Stachys Betonica) of the Labiate order, having spiked purple flowers and ovate crenate leaves. In former days medicinal and magical virtues were attributed to it.
| [c 1000 Ags. Leechd. II. 58 Wyl ón ealað..betonican.] a 1275 in Wr.-Wülcker Voc. 554 Bethonica, beteine. c 1375 ? Barbour St. Baptista 760 In þe prouince of þe sare (= tzar?)..Quhare mene makis drink of spycery—Of betone þare is gret copy. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 34 Betayne, herbe [1499 batany or betony], betonica. 1483 Cath. Angl. 30 Betan, harba. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. in Promp. Parv. 34 Nesynge is caused with byten (betonica) thrust in the nostril. 1586 Cogan Haven Health lxxiii. (1636) 79 Betaine, though it grow wilde, yet it is set in many Gardens. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. iv. ii. vi. (1676) 721 All which [herbs] ..expel Devils..The Emperour Augustus..approves of Betony to this purpose. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 114 Wild-woad on each road we see; And medicinal betony. |
b. Applied (with qualification) to other British plants supposed to resemble the preceding in some respect: St. Paul's betony, a small species of Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia); water-betony, a figwort (Scrophularia aquatica) having crenate leaves. In contradistinction to these, betony itself was called Head Betony.
| 1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece i. iv. 244 Take..Leaves of..Lung⁓wort..Paul's Betony, Self-heal. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 189 Head Betony (Betonica officinalis). |