betony

American  

[bet-n-ee] / ˈbɛt n i /

noun

plural

betonies

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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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 ); -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

“Wormwood, and betony, and dandelion, and comfrey,” said Aunt Tabitha.

From All's Well Alice's Victory by Lewin, M.

Then let the womb be prepared with syrup of stoebis, hyssop, calamint, mugwort, with distilled water, a decoction of elder, marjoram, sage, origan, spearage, pennyroyal, and betony.

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

With the exception of vervain, no herb was more highly prized than betony.

From The Old English Herbals by Rohde, Eleanour Sinclair