shepherd's-purse

[ shep-erdz-purs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a European weed, Capsella bursa-pastoris, having white flowers and purselike pods, naturalized in North America.

shepherd's-purse

a plant, Capsella bursa-pastoris, having small white flowers and flattened triangular seed pods: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

C15: compare Latin bursa pastoris, French bourse-de-berger, German Hirtentasche, Dutch herdentasch

Toothache could be charmed away by a few leaves of the shepherds purse placed in the sole of the shoe.

As two typical examples, which are perhaps as good as any in the book, we may take those of Tutsan27 and of Shepherds Purse.

Of Shepherds Purse he says, This herbe hathe a small stalke and full of braunches and ragged leves and a whyte flowre.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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