pellitory

pel·li·to·ry ¹

 (pĕl′ĭ-tôr′ē)

n. pl. pel·li·to·ries

Any of various plants of the genus Parietaria, having long narrow leaves, often hairy stems, and small axillary flowers.

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[Middle English pellatori, variant of Middle English paritarie (influenced by peletre, wild thyme, plant of the genus Anacyclus; see pellitory²), from Anglo-Norman, from Late Latin parietāria, from feminine of Latin parietārius, of a wall or walls (so called because the plants often grow in walls), from pariēs, pariēt-, wall.]

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pel·li·to·ry ²

 (pĕl′ĭ-tôr′ē)

n. pl. pel·li·to·ries

A small Mediterranean plant (Anacyclus pyrethrum) in the composite family, containing a volatile oil formerly used for the relief of toothache.

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[Middle English peletori, alteration (influenced by paritarie, plant of the genus Parietaria); see pellitory¹ of peletre, from Old French piretre, peletre, from Latin pyrethrum; see pyrethrum.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pellitory

(ˈpɛlɪtərɪ; -trɪ)

n, pl -ries

1. (Plants) any of various urticaceous plants of the S and W European genus Parietaria, esp P. diffusa (pellitory-of-the-wall or wall pellitory), that grow in crevices and have long narrow leaves and small pink flowers

2. (Plants) pellitory of Spain a small Mediterranean plant, Anacyclus pyrethrum, the root of which contains an oil formerly used to relieve toothache: family Asteraceae (composites)

[C16 peletre, from Old French piretre, from Latin pyrethrum, from Greek purethron, from pur fire, from the hot pungent taste of the root]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pel•li•to•ry

(ˈpɛl ɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i)
n., pl. -ries.

a composite plant, Anacyclus pyrethrum, of the S Mediterranean, with a yarrowlike flower head and a pungent root used locally for relieving toothache.

[1535–40; alter. of Middle English peletre < Anglo-French, Middle French piretre < Latin pyrethrum < Greek pýrethron, akin to pyretós fever]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	pellitory - herb that grows in crevices having long narrow leaves and small pink apetalous flowers Parietaria difussa, pellitory-of-the-wall, wall pellitory herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests genus Parietaria, Parietaria - small genus of stingless herbs
	2.	pellitory - a small Mediterranean plant containing a volatile oil once used to relieve toothache Anacyclus pyrethrum, pellitory-of-Spain Anacyclus, genus Anacyclus - a Spanish pellitory herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.