ferula

[ fer-oo-luh, fer-yoo- ]

noun

, plural fer·u·las, fer·u·lae [fer, -, oo, -lee, fer, -y, oo, -].

1. Botany. any of various plants belonging to the genus Ferula, of the parsley family, chiefly of the Mediterranean region and central Asia, generally tall and coarse with dissected leaves, many of the Asian species yielding strongly scented, medicinal gum resins.
2. ferule ¹( def 1 ).

ferula

/ ˌfɛruːˈleɪʃəs; ˌfɛrjuː-; ˈfɛrʊlə; ˈfɛrjʊ- /

noun

1. any large umbelliferous plant of the Mediterranean genus Ferula , having thick stems and dissected leaves: cultivated as the source of several strongly scented gum resins, such as galbanum
2. a rare word for ferule 1

Derived Forms

• ferulaceous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferula¹

1350–1400; Middle English < New Latin, Latin; ferule ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferula¹

C14: from Latin: giant fennel

Example Sentences

Of Umbelliferae there exists in the low country one Ferula, a small tree of unknown properties.

From Project Gutenberg

An inferior sort is the product of certain species of Ferula.

From Project Gutenberg

The old gentleman jumped up, ferula in hand, and darted across the school, and saw himself upon the fatal slate.

From Project Gutenberg

There also are found in abundance the great umbelliferous plants—Ferula glauca, Ferula candelabra, and the Ferula asafœtida.

From Project Gutenberg

With a bounding heart, he tossed away his ferula, and hastened to the scene, where joys for evermore seemed calling on him.

From Project Gutenberg