pellitory

noun plural -ries

any of various urticaceous plants of the S and W European genus Parietaria, esp P. diffusa (pellitory-of-the-wall or wall pellitory), that grow in crevices and have long narrow leaves and small pink flowers
pellitory of Spain a small Mediterranean plant, Anacyclus pyrethrum, the root of which contains an oil formerly used to relieve toothache: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word Origin for pellitory

C16 peletre, from Old French piretre, from Latin pyrethrum, from Greek purethron, from pur fire, from the hot pungent taste of the root

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

Examples from the Web for pellitory

Historical Examples of pellitory

You may boil in it Pellitory of the wall, Agrimony, or what herbs you please.
The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened
Kenelm Digby
The Pellitory of the wall (Parietaria officinalis), has the male and female flowers on the same plant.
Botany for Ladies
Jane Loudon
Pellitory, pel′i-tor-i, n. a genus of plants found most commonly on old walls and heaps of rubbish: the feverfew.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)
Various
She picked a little piece of pellitory out of the breast-high wall in front of us.
The Good Soldier
Ford Madox Ford