groundsel

groundsel
\ \ [OE] The -sel of groundsel represents Old English swelganswallow’ (ancestor of modern English swallow), and if ground- genuinely represents ground, then groundsel would mean etymologically ‘groundswallower’ – presumably a reference to its rapid and invasive growth. However, in early texts the form gundæswelgiæ appears, the first element of which suggests Old English gundpus’. If this is the word’s true origin, it would mean literally ‘pus-swallower’, an allusion to its use in poultices to absorb pus, and groundsel would be a variant introduced through association with ground.
\ \ Cf.SWALLOW

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Groundsel — sometimes refers to: *some flowering plants of the genus Senecio **especially the species Senecio vulgaris , also known as Common groundsel **also Welsh groundel, Senecio cambrensis **also York radiate groundsel, Senecio eboracensis **also… …   Wikipedia

  • Groundsel — Ground sel, n. [OE. grundswilie, AS. grundeswylige, grundeswelge, earlier gundiswilge; gund matter, pus + swelgan to swallow. So named as being good for a running from the eye. See {Swallow}, v.] (Bot.) An annual composite plant ({Senecio… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Groundsel — Ground sel, Groundsill Ground sill , n. [Ground + sill.] See {Ground plate} (a), under {Ground} [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • groundsel — ► NOUN ▪ a plant of the daisy family with small yellow flowers. ORIGIN Old English, probably from two words meaning «pus» + «to swallow» (with reference to its use in poultices) …   English terms dictionary

  • groundsel — [ground′səl, groun′səl] n. [ME grundeswylie < OE grundeswylige, altered (after grund, GROUND1) < earlier gundeswelge, ? lit., pus swallower < gund, pus + swelgan, to SWALLOW2, from its use in poultices] any of a genus (Senecio) of plants …   English World dictionary

  • groundsel — [OE] The sel of groundsel represents Old English swelgan ‘swallow’ (ancestor of modern English swallow), and if ground genuinely represents ground, then groundsel would mean etymologically ‘groundswallower’ – presumably a reference to its rapid… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • groundsel — paprastoji žilė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Astrinių šeimos vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Senecio vulgaris), paplitęs Europoje, šiaurės Afrikoje ir Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Senecio vulgaris angl. common groundsel; groundsel šaltinis… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • groundsel — I. /ˈgraʊnsəl/ (say grownsuhl) noun 1. any plant of the composite genus Senecio, as S. vulgaris, a weed bearing small yellow flowers. 2. → variable groundsel. {Middle English grundeswilie, etc., Old English g(r)undeswelge, etc., apparently from… …  

  • groundsel — žilė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Astrinių (Asteraceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Senecio). atitikmenys: lot. Senecio angl. butterweed; groundnesel; groundsel; ragwort; senecio vok. Greiskraut; Kreuzkraut; Senecio rus. крестовник lenk.… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • groundsel bush — noun a shrub of salt marshes of eastern and south central North America and West Indies; fruit is surrounded with white plumelike hairy tufts • Syn: ↑groundsel tree, ↑consumption weed, ↑cotton seed tree, ↑Baccharis halimifolia • Hypernyms: ↑shrub …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”