sowbread

[sou-bred]

noun

1. any of several species of cyclamen, especially Cyclamen hederifolium, a low-growing Old World plant having mottled leaves and pink or white flowers.

sowbread

/ ˈsaʊˌbrɛd /

noun

1. a S European primulaceous plant, Cyclamen hederifolium, with heart-shaped leaves and pink nodding flowers See also cyclamen

Word History and Origins

Origin of sowbread¹

1540–50; sow ² + bread; so called because the roots are sought after by hogs

Word History and Origins

Origin of sowbread¹

C16: from _sow ² + _bread , based on Medieval Latin panis porcinus; the tuberous roots are eaten by swine

Example Sentences

"Furthermore, Sowbread, being beaten, and made into little flat cakes, is reputed to be a good amorous medicine, to make one in love."

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Take oil of keir, two ounces, juice of savine an ounce, of leeks and mercury, each half an ounce; boil them to the consumption of the juice; add galbanum dissolved in vinegar, half an ounce, myrrh, two drachms, storax liquid a drachm, round bitwort, sowbread, cinnamon, saffron, a drachm, with wax make an ointment and apply it.

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