fumitory

American  

[fyoo-mi-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈfju mɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

fumitories plural

1. any plant of the genus Fumaria, especially a delicate herb, F. officinalis, having finely dissected, grayish leaves and spikes of purplish flowers.

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fumitory British  

/ ˈfjuːmɪtərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. any plant of the chiefly European genus Fumaria , esp F. officinalis , having spurred flowers and formerly used medicinally: family Fumariaceae

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• fumitories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fumitory

1350–1400; alteration of earlier fumiterre, Middle English fumetere < Middle French < Medieval Latin fūmus terrae literally, smoke of the earth; literal sense uncertain

Example Sentences

If this general seed-sowing became a matter of principle, for instance, I should probably sow daisies on my neighbour's tennis lawn, poppies and fumitory in his cornfield, and dandelions in his meadow.

From The Pleasures of Ignorance by Lynd, Robert

In past times fumitory was in esteem for its reputed cholagogue and other medicinal properties; and in England, boiled in water, milk or whey, it was used as a cosmetic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

Henry V. Apple, balm, docks, elder, fig, flower-de-luce, grass, hemp, leek, nettle, fumitory, kecksies, burs, cowslips, burnet, clover, darnel, strawberry, thistles, vine, violet, hemlock. 1st Henry VI.

From The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare by Ellacombe, Henry Nicholson

Some fumitory appeared this summer in a field of barley; till then I had not observed any for some time in that district.

From Nature Near London by Jefferies, Richard

I think we may see this even in a small flower like the fumitory, in which one portion is deep purple and all the rest of the blossoms a delicate pink.

From Birds and Man by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)