stavesacre

American  

[steyvz-ey-ker] / ˈsteɪvzˌeɪ kər /

noun

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

2. the seeds themselves.

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stavesacre British  

/ ˈsteɪvzˌeɪkə /

noun

1. a Eurasian ranunculaceous plant, Delphinium staphisagria , having purple flowers and poisonous seeds

2. the seeds of this plant, which have strong emetic and cathartic properties

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Etymology

Origin of stavesacre

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

Example Sentences

Stavesacre, stāvz′ā-kėr, n. a tall larkspur whose seeds yield delphinin for destroying lice.

From Project Gutenberg

Delphinium, del-fin′i-um, n. a genus of Ranunculace� comprising the larkspurs and stavesacre.

From Project Gutenberg

L. D.— Stavesacre was employed by the ancients as a cathartic, but it operates with so much violence both upwards and downwards, that its internal use has been, among the generality of practitioners, for some time laid aside.

From Project Gutenberg