dog's mercury

British  

noun

1. a hairy somewhat poisonous euphorbiaceous perennial, Mercurialis perennis, having broad lanceolate toothed leaves and small greenish male and female flowers, the males borne in catkins. It often carpets shady woodlands

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Example Sentences

Blackberry was about to reply when another rabbit came noisily through the thick dog’s mercury in the wood, blundered down into the brambles and pushed his way up from the ditch.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

So occasionally she hired someone to pull up the dog’s mercury and the Jack-in-the-hedge so that her favorites could flourish.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Take three drachms each of roast figs, and bruised dog's mercury; three drachms each of turpentine and duck's grease, and two grains of opium; make a pessary with wax.

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

In the cure of this disease, imitate the practice of Hippocrates, and first mitigate the pain with fomentations of melilot, dog's mercury, mallows, linseed, camomiles and althoea.

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

Take a handful of dog's mercury and althea roots; half a handful of flos brochae ursini; six ounces of linseed and barley meal.

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