- spurge
- spurge ► NOUN ▪ a plant or shrub with milky latex and small greenish flowers.ORIGIN Old French espurge, from Latin expurgare 'cleanse' (because of the purgative properties of the milky latex).
English terms dictionary. 2015.
spurge
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Spurge — Spurge, n. [OF. espurge, F. [ e]purge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See {Expurgate}, {Purge}.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Euphorbia. See {Euphorbia}. [1913 Webster] {Spurge flax}, an evergreen shrub ({Daphne Gnidium}) with… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spurge — spərj n any of various mostly shrubby plants (family Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, and esp. genus Euphorbia) that have a bitter milky juice and that include several which have been used medicinally see IPECAC SPURGE … Medical dictionary
Spurge — (sp[^u]rj), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To emit foam; to froth; said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spurge — [spʉrj] n. [ME < MFr espurge < espurger, to purge < L expurgare: see EXPURGATE] any of a genus (Euphorbia) of plants of the spurge family, with milky juice and minute, simplified flowers borne in cuplike inflorescences adj. designating a … English World dictionary
spurge — plant species, late 14c., from O.Fr. espurge, from espurgier to purge, from L. expurgare, from ex out + purgare to purge (see PURGE (Cf. purge)). So called from the plant s purgative properties … Etymology dictionary
spurge — /sperrj/, n. any of numerous plants of the genus Euphorbia, having a milky juice and flowers with no petals or sepals. Cf. spurge family. [1350 1400; ME < MF espurge, n. deriv. of espurgier to cleanse < L expurgare. See EX 1, PURGE] * * * One of… … Universalium
Spurge — This unusual and interesting name is of early medieval English origin, and is a topographical surname denoting residence by a place where the species of plant called spurge grew in abundance. The name derives from the Middle English word spurge … Surnames reference
spurge — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French espurge, spurge, from espurger to clean out, purge, from Latin expurgare more at expurgate Date: 14th century any of a family (Euphorbiaceae) of widely distributed herbs, shrubs, and trees often… … New Collegiate Dictionary
spurge — karpažolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Karpažolinių (Euphorbiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Euphorbia). atitikmenys: lot. Euphorbia angl. spurge vok. Wolfsmilch rus. молочай lenk. wilczomlecz … Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas
spurge — n. any plant of the genus Euphorbia, exuding an acrid milky juice once used medicinally as a purgative. Phrases and idioms: spurge laurel any shrub of the genus Daphne, esp. D. laureola, with small yellow flowers. Etymology: ME f. OF espurge f.… … Useful english dictionary
