spignel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Meum athamanticum, an ornamental plant in the Apiaceae family found in mountain areas in Central and Western Europe, with roots and feathery leaves used as food and for medicinal purposes.
  2. Preceded by a descriptive word: a plant resembling Meum athamanticum.
  3. The dried, powdered root of Meum athamanticum used as a cooking spice or a medicine.

Pronunciation

/ˈspɪɡnəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-AcpoKrane-spignel.wav

Word forms

spignel spignels spicknel spikenel spiknel

Etymology

Either: * an alteration of Middle English spigurnel (“unidentified broomlike flowering plant with medicinal uses”) [and other forms], borrowed from Anglo-Norman spigurnel, spigurnelle, and Anglo-Latin spigurnella, further etymology unknown; or * from spike + nail, because of the shape of its capillary leaves.

Synonyms

baldmoney bear's wort bearwort bear-wort maldmoney meon meu meum
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