dog's-tooth
Also dog-tooth.
[transl. of med.L. dens canis.]
1. (Now dog's or dog-tooth violet.) The English name of the genus Erythronium of liliaceous plants, esp. E. Dens-canis, a garden plant with spotted leaves and purple flowers, which appear early in spring; so called from the teeth on the inner segments of the perianth.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. xlv. 203 Dogges tooth..hath for the most parte but two leaues, speckled with great redde spottes. 1629 Parkinson Paradisus 194 It is most commonly called Dens caninus, and..in English either Dogs tooth or Dogs tooth Violet. 1841 J. W. Loudon Ladies' Comp. Fl. Garden 99 Dog's-tooth Violet..is a pretty bulbous-rooted plant, with spotted leaves and purple flowers. |
2. A species of grass, Cynodon Dactylon.
Sometimes erroneously given as a name for Triticum caninum (dog-grass).
| 1600 Surflet Countrie Farme i. x. 50 He shall..plucke vp from them [the vines] the grasse called dogs tooth. 1830 Withering's Brit. Pl. (1837) 70 Creeping Dog's-tooth-grass. 1885 C. F. Holder Marvels Anim. Life 17 Bamboo, to which are attached bundles of fine dog's-tooth grass. |
¶ See also dog-tooth.