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fumitory

[fyoo-mi-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
noun, plural fu·mi·to·ries.
  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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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fumitory

Historical Examples of fumitory

  • The green leaves of the Fumitory are very delicate and pretty.

    Flowers Shown to the Children

    C. E. Smith

  • The fumitory is a perpetual bloomer from July till killed by the autumn frosts.

    Riverby

    John Burroughs

  • Diadelphia: stamens united into two distinct sets; as in fumitory.

  • Fumitory helps such as are itchy and scabbed, helps Rickets, madness, and quartain agues.

  • Fumitory, too, was grown by the housewives, and was used as a tonic and a remedy for jaundice.

British Dictionary definitions for fumitory

fumitory

noun plural -ries
  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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Word Origin for fumitory

C14: from Old French fumetere, from Medieval Latin fūmus terrae, literally: smoke of the earth; see fume
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