scabious

1
[ skey-bee-uhs ]

adjective
  1. covered with or consisting of scabs; scabby.

  2. pertaining to or of the nature of scabies.

Origin of scabious

1
First recorded in 1595–1605; scabi(es) + -ous

Words Nearby scabious

Other definitions for scabious (2 of 2)

scabious2
[ skey-bee-uhs ]

noun
  1. Also called pincushion flower. any of various plants belonging to the genus Scabiosa, of the teasel family, having opposite leaves and often showy flower heads in a variety of colors.

  2. any of various similar or related plants.

Origin of scabious

2
1350–1400; Middle English scabiose<Medieval Latin scabiōsa (herba) scabies-curing (herb); see scabies, -ous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scabious in a sentence

  • The mountains drew nearer, and other pale colours began to show through the scabious blue.

    Mushroom Town | Oliver Onions
  • The grass was all but hidden under a blue blur of scabious, and the cobwebs in the hedges were elaborately studded with dew-drops.

    Lives of the Fur Folk | M. D. Haviland
  • The scabious, or Devils bit, was regarded with great superstition.

    The Funny Side of Physic | A. D. Crabtre
  • When he passed under the window she threw him a scabious bound up with forget-me-nots.

    The Prussian Terror | Alexandre Dumas
  • Patches of purple heath alternated with lilac scabious and pale hare-bells.

British Dictionary definitions for scabious (1 of 2)

scabious1

/ (ˈskeɪbɪəs) /


adjective
  1. having or covered with scabs

  2. of, relating to, or resembling scabies

Origin of scabious

1
C17: from Latin scabiōsus, from scabies

British Dictionary definitions for scabious (2 of 2)

scabious2

/ (ˈskeɪbɪəs) /


noun
  1. any plant of the genus Scabiosa, esp S. atropurpurea, of the Mediterranean region, having blue, red, or whitish dome-shaped flower heads: family Dipsacaceae

  2. any of various similar plants of the related genus Knautia

  1. devil's bit scabious a similar and related Eurasian marsh plant, Succisa pratensis

Origin of scabious

2
C14: from Medieval Latin scabiōsa herba the scabies plant, referring to its use in treating scabies

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012