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foxglove

[foks-gluhv]
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noun
  1. any Eurasian plant belonging to the genus Digitalis, of the figwort family, especially D. purpurea, having drooping, tubular, purple or white flowers on tall spikes, and leaves that are the source of digitalis in medicine.
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Origin of foxglove

before 1000; Middle English foxes glove, Old English foxes glōfa. See fox, glove
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for foxglove

Historical Examples

  • That the exhibition of the Foxglove was but seldom attended with sickness.

    An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses

    William Withering

  • Among the fern at this season stood the tall dead stalks of foxglove.

    Armorel of Lyonesse

    Walter Besant

  • The Foxglove leaves are broad and long, and they are pointed at the end.

  • In irregular flowers, like the snapdragon and foxglove, the decoration is irregular.

  • A rival in sound could be made by popping the foxglove's fingers.

British Dictionary definitions for foxglove

foxglove

noun
  1. any Eurasian scrophulariaceous plant of the genus Digitalis, esp D. purpurea, having spikes of purple or white thimble-like flowers. The soft wrinkled leaves are a source of digitalis
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Word Origin

Old English
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foxglove

n.

Old English foxes glofa; the reason for fox is uncertain. Cf. Old English foxesfot ("fox foot") "xiphion;" foxesclate "burdock."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
foxglove in Medicine

foxglove

(fŏks′glŭv′)
n.
  1. Any of several herbs of the genus Digitalis, especially D. purpurea, having a long cluster of large, tubular, pinkish-purple flowers and leaves that are the source of the drug digitalis.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.