spignels

Noun

spignel (countable and uncountable, plural spignels)

1. Meum athamanticum, an ornamental plant in the Apiaceae family found in mountain areas in Central and Western Europe, with roots and feathery leaves used as food and for medicinal purposes.
   • I would gladly cõſẽt to thẽ yͭ holde yͭ yͤ herbe wich is called of the apothecaries feniculũ tortuoſum⸝ of yͤ Northẽ Engliſhe mẽ ſpiknel⸝ of the Duche mẽ berwurtz⸝ is yͤ true mew, if yͭ I could fynd any ſpicknel or berwurtz yͭ were of ij. cubites hygh. […] [W]here as the Mew of Mattiolus⸝ yͤ...1562, Wylliam Turner [i.e., William Turner], “Of the Herbe Called Meon or Mew”, in The Second Parte of Guilliam Turners Herball⸝ […], Cologne: […] Arnold Birckman, →OCLC, folio 56, verso

   Synonyms:

   baldmoney, bear's wort, bearwort, bear-wort, maldmoney, meon, meu, meum

2. Preceded by a descriptive word: a plant resembling Meum athamanticum.
   • SESELI; Wild-ſpignel.1740, Philip Miller, “SESELI”, in The Second Volume of The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume II, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC, column 1
3. (obsolete) The dried, powdered root of Meum athamanticum used as a cooking spice or a medicine.
   • [G]entian root, celtic ſpikenard, ſpignel, (meum athamanticum) mountain poly leaves, St. John's wort leaves, […] each half an ounce, […]1747, “Electuaries. [Theriaca Andromachi. Venice Treacle.]”, in The British Dispensatory, Containing a Faithful Translation of the New London Pharmacopœia, […], London: […] Edward Cave, […], →OCLC...