fumitory

[ fyoo-mi-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

noun,plural fu·mi·to·ries.
  1. any plant of the genus Fumaria, especially a delicate herb, F. officinalis, having finely dissected, grayish leaves and spikes of purplish flowers.

Origin of fumitory

1
1350–1400; alteration of earlier fumiterre,Middle English fumetere<Middle French <Medieval Latin fūmus terrae literally, smoke of the earth; literal sense uncertain

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British Dictionary definitions for fumitory

fumitory

/ (ˈfjuːmɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /


nounplural -ries
  1. any plant of the chiefly European genus Fumaria, esp F. officinalis, having spurred flowers and formerly used medicinally: family Fumariaceae

Origin of fumitory

1
C14: from Old French fumetere, from Medieval Latin fūmus terrae, literally: smoke of the earth; see fume

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