elecampane

[ el-i-kam-peyn ]

noun

1. a composite weed, Inula helenium, naturalized in North America, having large yellow flowers and aromatic leaves and root.

elecampane

/ ˌɛlɪkæmˈpeɪn /

noun

1. a perennial flowering plant, Inula helenium, of Europe, Asia, and North America having large hairy leaves and narrow yellow petals: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word History and Origins

Origin of elecampane¹

1350–1400; Middle English, equivalent to Old English ele ( ne ), eolone (metathetic alteration of Medieval Latin enula, Latin inula elecampane) + Middle English campane < Medieval Latin campāna, equivalent to camp ( us ) field + -āna, feminine of -ānus -ane, -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of elecampane¹

C16: from Medieval Latin enula campãna, from enula (from Greek helenion ) + campãnus of the field

Example Sentences

One time the weather was very sharp, and I had taken great cold, I got a little elecampane beer.

From Project Gutenberg

Elecampane, now known as the sweetmeat of childhood, was esteemed for ages in the domestic herbal.

From Project Gutenberg

This was in pennyroyal time, and when the rare lobelia was in its prime and the elecampane was coming on.

From Project Gutenberg

"I just saw a nice plant o' elecampane growin' back there," she said presently to her daughter.

From Project Gutenberg

Inula (elecampane) has been employed as a cough remedy in England for centuries.

From Project Gutenberg