betony

American  

[bet-n-ee] / ˈbɛt n i /

noun

betonies plural

1. a plant, Stachys (formerlyBetonica ) officinalis, of the mint family, having hairy leaves and dense spikes of purple flowers, formerly used in medicine and dyeing.

2. any of various similar plants, especially of the genus Pedicularis.

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betony British  

/ ˈbɛtənɪ /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Stachys (or Betonica ) officinalis , with a spike of reddish-purple flowers, formerly used in medicine and dyeing: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

2. any of several related plants of the genus Stachys

3. a North American scrophulariaceous plant, Pedicularis canadensis See also lousewort

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• betonies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of betony

First recorded before 1000; late Middle English; Middle English betayny, betanie, from Medieval Latin betōnia, re-formation of Latin betōnica (Pliny), in earlier readings vettōnica (herba) “Vettonic (herb)” ( Vettōn(ēs) “an Iberian tribe” + -ica, feminine of -icus adjective suffix); compare Middle English beteyne, betoyne (from Anglo-French ), Old English bet(t)onice (from Latin ); see -ic

Example Sentences

Instead, there are violet columns of bluebonnets, pillowy white flowers blooming on jimsonweed, and delicate red blooms dotting a Texas betony shrub.

From National Geographic • Apr. 21, 2023

Neatly trimmed boxwood hedges created a path lined with young betony plants, lavender, day lilies, and honeysuckle.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Let it stand to cool, beat up three ounces of syrup of betony with a large spoonful of ale yeast, and put it into the liquor.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

After a time, when the corn is ripening, the herb betony flowers on the mounds under the oaks.

From Nature Near London by Jefferies, Richard

The far-famed betony was long credited with marvellous medicinal properties, and hence the old saying which recommends a person when ill "to sell his coat and buy betony."

From The Folk-lore of Plants by Dyer, T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton)