groundsel

1
[ ground-suhl ]

noun
  1. any composite plant of the genus Senecio, especially S. vulgaris, a common weed having clusters of small yellow disk flowers without rays.

Origin of groundsel

1
before 900; Middle English grundeswili(e), groundeswel,Old English grundeswelge, gundeswelge; compare Old English gund pus, swelgan to swallow, absorb (from its use in medicine); the -r- is by folk etymology from association with ground1

Words Nearby groundsel

Other definitions for groundsel (2 of 2)

groundsel2
[ ground-suhl ]

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How to use groundsel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for groundsel

groundsel

/ (ˈɡraʊnsəl) /


noun
  1. any of certain plants of the genus Senecio, esp S. vulgaris, a Eurasian weed with heads of small yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites): See also ragwort

  2. groundsel tree a shrub, Baccharis halimifolia, of E North America, with white plumelike fruits: family Asteraceae

Origin of groundsel

1
Old English grundeswelge, changed from gundeswilge, from gund pus + swelgan to swallow; after its use in poultices on abscesses

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