ferula
(ˈfɛr(j)ʊlə)
[a. L. ferula giant fennel, a rod.]
1. Bot. A genus of plants; the giant fennel.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. lxxi. (1495) 645 Ferula is an herbe. 1562 Turner Herbal ii. 1 b, The nature of Ferula is the sorest enemie that can be to Lampreys. 1693 Sir T. P. Blount Nat. Hist. 465 Vossius..affirms them to be Arborescent Ferula's. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 175 This species of ferula is a native of..Persia. 1868 Mrs. H. L. Evans Wint. in Algeria 25 The beautiful feathery leaf of the ferula. |
2. From the use of the fennel-stalk in Roman times: A cane, rod, or other instrument of punishment, esp. a flat piece of wood (see ferule 2 quot. 1825); fig. school discipline.
| 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 612 Many..do put forth their hands to be stricken..with the ferula. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. xix. (1627) 215, I have laboured and striven by ferula, and all meanes of severity. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 123 We..had Ferula's made to punish Swearing. 1840 P. Parley's Ann. 316 They had never known the infliction of chastisement from either cane or ferula. 1851 Carlyle Sterling i. iv. (1872) 27 His ever-changing course..which was passed so nomadically under ferulas of various colour. |
3. Surg. A long splint.
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 444. 1884 in Syd. Soc. Lex. |