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

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)

After bleeding let the place be prepared and made flexible with syrup of stychas, calamint, betony, hyssop, mugwort, horehound, fumitary, maidenhair.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

I thought to have asked Nora Goldhue for a sprig of betony, or else purslane.

From Our Little Lady Six Hundred Years Ago by Irwin, M. (Madelaine)