stavesacre

[steyvz-ey-ker]

noun

a larkspur, Delphinium staphisagria, of Europe and Asia Minor, having violently emetic and cathartic poisonous seeds.
the seeds themselves.

Origin of stavesacre

1350–1400; Middle English staphisagre < Latin staphis agria < Greek staphìs agría literally, wild raisin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for stavesacre

Historical Examples of stavesacre

Delphinium, del-fin′i-um, n. a genus of Ranunculace comprising the larkspurs and stavesacre.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)
Various
Lotions of the smaller centaury or of stavesacre, and pomatum mixed with mercurial ointment, are very efficacious.
The Insect World
Louis Figuier
The vegeto-alkaline principle of the Delphinium staphysagria, or stavesacre.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines
Andrew Ure
An alkaloid discovered by Lassaigne and Feneulle in Delphinium staphysagria or stavesacre.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I
Arnold Cooley

British Dictionary definitions for stavesacre

stavesacre

noun

a Eurasian ranunculaceous plant, Delphinium staphisagria, having purple flowers and poisonous seeds
the seeds of this plant, which have strong emetic and cathartic properties

Word Origin for stavesacre

C14 staphisagre, from Latin staphis agria, from Greek, from staphis raisin + agria wild

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

Word Origin and History for stavesacre

herbal plant of the Delphinium family, c.1400, from Latin staphisagria, from Greek staphis agria, literally "wild raisin," from staphis "raisin" + agria, fem. of agrios "wild," literally "living in the fields," from agros "field" (see acre).