stavesacre
[steyvz-ey-ker]
- a larkspur, Delphinium staphisagria, of Europe and Asia Minor, having violently emetic and cathartic poisonous seeds.
- the seeds themselves.
Show More
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
Delphinium, del-fin′i-um, n. a genus of Ranunculace comprising the larkspurs and stavesacre.
Lotions of the smaller centaury or of stavesacre, and pomatum mixed with mercurial ointment, are very efficacious.
The Insect WorldLouis Figuier
The vegeto-alkaline principle of the Delphinium staphysagria, or stavesacre.
An alkaloid discovered by Lassaigne and Feneulle in Delphinium staphysagria or stavesacre.
stavesacre
- a Eurasian ranunculaceous plant, Delphinium staphisagria, having purple flowers and poisonous seeds
- the seeds of this plant, which have strong emetic and cathartic properties
Show More
Word Origin
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
n.
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).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper