wormseed

American  

[wurm-seed] / ˈwɜrmˌsid /

noun

1. the dried, unexpanded flower heads of a wormwood, Artemisia cina Levant wormseed, or the fruit of certain goosefoots, especially Chenopodium anthelminticum (orC. ambrosioides ), the Mexican tea or American wormseed, used as an anthelmintic drug.

2. any of these plants.

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wormseed British  

/ ˈwɜːmˌsiːd /

noun

1. any of various plants having seeds or other parts used in medicine to treat worm infestation, esp an American chenopodiaceous plant, Chenopodium anthelminticum (or C. ambrosioides ) ( American wormseed ), and the santonica plant

2. the part of any of these plants that is used as an anthelmintic

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Etymology

Origin of wormseed

First recorded in 1350–1400, wormseed is from the Middle English word wyrmsed. See worm, seed

Example Sentences

I’m tempted to say the same for the crispy quesadillas, these half-moons that practically ooze grease, except I love the cool, minty effect of the dish’s wormseed leaves.

From Washington Post

Make a strong decoction of sage, two parts; wormseed, one part; strain, and add sugar enough to make into candy, and let the child eat of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Take wormseed, half a drachm, flour of sulphur, a drachm; mix and make a powder.

From Project Gutenberg

Use also astringent fomentations of bramble leaves, plantain, horse-tails, myrtles, each two handfuls; wormseed, two handfuls; pomegranate flowers, half an ounce; boil them in wine and water.

From Project Gutenberg