wormseed

American  

[wurm-seed] / ˈwɜrmˌsid /

noun

1. the dried, unexpanded flower heads of a wormwood, Artemisia cina Levant wormseed, or the fruit of certain goosefoots, especially Chenopodium anthelminticum (orC. ambrosioides ), the Mexican tea or American wormseed, used as an anthelmintic drug.

2. any of these plants.

---

wormseed British  

/ ˈwɜːmˌsiːd /

noun

1. any of various plants having seeds or other parts used in medicine to treat worm infestation, esp an American chenopodiaceous plant, Chenopodium anthelminticum (or C. ambrosioides ) ( American wormseed ), and the santonica plant

2. the part of any of these plants that is used as an anthelmintic

---

Etymology

Origin of wormseed

First recorded in 1350–1400, wormseed is from the Middle English word wyrmsed. See worm, seed

Example Sentences

I’m tempted to say the same for the crispy quesadillas, these half-moons that practically ooze grease, except I love the cool, minty effect of the dish’s wormseed leaves.

From Washington Post

Make a strong decoction of sage, two parts; wormseed, one part; strain, and add sugar enough to make into candy, and let the child eat of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Combination: Oil of wormseed one ounce, oil of tansy one ounce, spirits of turpentine one and one-half ounce, castor oil one pint.

From Project Gutenberg

Use also astringent fomentations of bramble leaves, plantain, horse-tails, myrtles, each two handfuls; wormseed, two handfuls; pomegranate flowers, half an ounce; boil them in wine and water.

From Project Gutenberg

I can soon gather jimson leaves and seed to fill orders, the hemlock is about right to take the fruit, the mustard is yet in pod, and the saffron and wormseed can be attended later.

From Project Gutenberg