ferula

American  

[fer-oo-luh, fer-yoo-] / ˈfɛr ʊ lə, ˈfɛr yʊ- /

noun

plural

ferulas, ferulae

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.

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ferula British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• ferulaceous adjective

Etymology

Origin of ferula

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

Example Sentences

"Read,"—cried the master, waving his ferula with a commanding gesture,—"our time is precious."

From Ernest Linwood or, The Inner Life of the Author by Hentz, Caroline Lee

TAWIS, TAWES, s. a whip; a lash; the ferula used by a schoolmaster.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV. by Leighton, Alexander

Let ferula and rod together Lie dormant, till the frosty weather.

From A Handbook for Latin Clubs by Paxson, Susan

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

From Westward Ho!, or, the voyages and adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the county of Devon, in the reign of her most glorious majesty Queen Elizabeth by Kingsley, Charles

In this place we are called upon to consider, whether it be more agreeable to have Latin or the ferula at our fingers’ ends.

From The Comic Latin Grammar A new and facetious introduction to the Latin tongue by Leech, John