Jerusalem oak

American  

noun

1. feather geranium.

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Jerusalem oak British  

noun

1. a weedy North American chenopodiaceous plant, Chenopodium botrys, that has lobed leaves and smells of turpentine

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Etymology

Origin of Jerusalem oak

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

But, Lordy! when us got sick, dey gib us Jerusalem oak and sassafras tea.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume I, Alabama Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration

Jerusalem oak, 125Jimson weed, 155Juncaceae, 118June grass, 116 Keel, the joined pair of petals in a papilionaceous corolla; a projecting ridge along the back of an organ.

From Seeds of Michigan Weeds Bulletin 260, Michigan State Agricultural College Experiment Station, Division of Botany, March, 1910 by Beal, W. J. (William James)

Them days we made our own med'cine out of horsemint and butterfly weed and Jerusalem oak and bottled them teas up for the winter.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume XVI, Texas Narratives, Part 4 by United States. Work Projects Administration

Miss Polly made us drink tea made out of Jerusalem oak weeds.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 4 by Work Projects Administration

Den dere was red sassafrac tea fer spring feber, an' dey made Jerusalem oak candy full o' seeds an' gib to de chilluns to eat so dey could git rid of worms.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume I, Alabama Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration