spignel

plural spignels · alternative spicknel · alternative spikenel · alternative spiknel

1. countableuncountableMeum 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.

   MEW, the Herb call'd alſo Spikenel and wild Dill.

   1726, N[athan] Bailey, “MEW”, in An Universal Etymological English Dictionary: […], 3rd edition, London: […] J. Darby, […], →OCLC, column 1

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   I would gladly cõſẽt to thẽ yͭ holde yͭ yͤ herbe wich is called of the apothecaries feniculũ tortuoſum⸝ of yͤ Northẽ Engliſhe mẽ ſpiknel⸝ of the Duche mẽ berwurtz⸝ is yͤ true mew, if yͭ I could fynd any ſpicknel or berwurtz yͭ were of ij. cubites hygh. […] [W]here as the Mew of Mattiolus⸝ yͤ berwurtz of Germany & yͤ ſpiknel of Englãd (which peraduẽture was ones called Spiknard) haue a rough thyng like to the Iudiſh Spiknarde in the hygheſt parte of the root⸝ out of whiche the ſtalke cõmeth firſt furth⸝ the mew of Amatus hath yͤ ſame rough tuht lyke Spiknarde⸝ as he writeth in infirma parte⸝ in the loweſt parte of the roote⸝ which thyng if it be ſo⸝ neither Matthiolus nor I know the ryght mew; […]

   I would gladly consent to them that hold that the herb which is called of the apothecaries feniculum tortuosum, of the Northern Englishmen spiknel, of the Dutchmen berwurtz, is the true mew, if that I could find any spicknel or berwurtz that were of two cubits high. […] [W]hereas the mew of Matthiolus [Pietro Andrea Mattioli], that berwurtz of Germany and that spiknel of England (which peradventure was once called spikenard) have a rough thing like to the Judish spikenard in the highest part of the root, out of which the stalk cometh first forth, the mew of Amatus [Amatus Lusitanus?] hath the same rough tuft like spikenard, as he writeth in infirma parte, in the lowest part of the root, which thing if it be so, neither Matthiolus nor I know the right mew; […]

   1562, Wylliam Turner [i.e., William Turner], “Of the Herbe Called Meon or Mew”, in The Second Parte of Guilliam Turners Herball⸝ […], Cologne: […] Arnold Birckman, →OCLC, folio 56, verso

   The ſhops of the Low countries haue miſcalled it in times paſt by the name of Meum, & vſed it for the right Mew or Spiknell woort.

   1597, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], “Of Wilde Parsley”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton, →OCLC, book II, page 867, column 2

   Meu or Spicknell is not found in Italy, unleſſe it be in ſome Phyſicians garden, and thoſe are very few that ſow or ſet it.

   1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XX.] Of Meu, and Fenell, as well Gentle, Named Fœniculum; as Wild, which is Called Hippomarathrum, or Myrsineum: Of Hempe, and Fenell-geant: And of Thistles and Artichoux.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 2nd tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 77

   The Roots of common Spignel do ſpread much and deep in the ground, many ſtrings or branches growing from one Head which is hairy at the top, of a blackiſh brown colour on the outſide and white within, ſmelling well, and of an Aromatical taſt, from whence riſe ſundry long ſtalks of moſt fine cut Leaves like hairs, ſmaller than Dill, ſet thick on both ſides of the Stalks, and of a good ſcent. […] Galen ſaith, The Roots of Spignel are available to provoke Urine and Womans Courſes, but if too much thereof be taken it cauſeth Headach: […]

   1652, Nich[olas] Culpeper, “Spignel”, in The English Physitian: Or An Astrologo-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation. […], London: […] Peter Cole, […], →OCLC, page 222, column 1

   Mew, Spiknel, wild Dill, an Herb with a Stalk and Leaves like Anis: It is good to expel Wind, and to force Urine; as alſo for Mother-fits, Gripes, &c.

   1706, Edward Phillips, compiler, J[ohn] K[ersey the younger], “Meu or Meum”, in The New World of Words: Or, Universal English Dictionary. […], 6th edition, London: […] J. Phillips, […]; N. Rhodes, […]; and J. Taylor, […], →OCLC, column 2

   Synonyms: baldmoney, bear's wort, bearwort, bear-wort, maldmoney, meon, meu, meum

2. countableuncountablePreceded by a descriptive word: a plant resembling Meum athamanticum.

   SESELI; Wild-ſpignel.

   1740, Philip Miller, “SESELI”, in The Second Volume of The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume II, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, column 1

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   It [the carrot] is the daucus of botany, and was well known to the Greek writers, but is thought to have been by them confounded with the Cretan spignel, or Candy carrot, which grows abundantly in that island, and of which a species is found on Gog-Magog hills, in Cambridgeshire.

   1851, “On the Culture of Carrots”, in The British Farmer’s Magazine, volume XIX, number LVIII (New Series), London: Henry Wright, […], →OCLC, page 482

3. countableobsoleteuncountableThe dried, powdered root of Meum athamanticum used as a cooking spice or a medicine.

   [G]entian root, celtic ſpikenard, ſpignel, (meum athamanticum) mountain poly leaves, St. John's wort leaves, […] each half an ounce, […]

   1747, “Electuaries. [Theriaca Andromachi. Venice Treacle.]”, in The British Dispensatory, Containing a Faithful Translation of the New London Pharmacopœia, […], London: […] Edward Cave, […], →OCLC, page 105

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   [H]e wrote a doctor's hand—the hand which from the beginning of has been so disastrous to the apothecary and so profitable to the undertaker: "Take […] of opobalsamum, Indian leaf, cinnamon, zedoary, ginger, coftus, coral, cassia, euphorbium, gum tragacanth, frankincense, styrax calamita, celtic, nard, spignel, hartwort, mustard, saxifrage, dill, anise, each one dram;[…]"

   1897, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “[Those Extraordinary Twins] Chapter VII”, in The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson: And the Comedy Those Extraordinary Twins, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 411