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Webster 1913 Edition

Feverfew

Fe′ver-few

(fē′vẽr-fū)
,
Noun.
[AS.
feferfuge
, fr. L.
febrifugia
. See
fever
,
Fugitive
, and cf.
Febrifuge
.]
(Bot.)
A perennial plant (
Pyrethrum Parthenium
, or
Chrysanthemum Parthenium
) allied to camomile, having finely divided leaves and white blossoms; – so named from its supposed febrifugal qualities.

Webster 1828 Edition

Feverfew

FE'VERFEW

,
Noun.
[L. febris and fugo.]
A plant, or rather a genus of plants, the Matricaria, so named from supposed febrifuge qualities. The common feverfew grows to the height of two or three feet with compound leaves and compound radiated white flowers, with a yellow disk.

Definition 2024

feverfew

feverfew

English

The flowers of the feverfew

Noun

feverfew ‎(plural feverfews)

  1. A European aromatic perennial herb, Tanacetum parthenium (or Chrysanthemum parthenium or Pyrethrum parthenium), having daisy-like flowers; valued as a traditional medicine especially for headaches

Translations

References

  • "Feverfew" in Michael Quinion, Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds, 2004.
  • "Feverfew" in Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged

Etymology

From Middle English modified by folk etymology from either Old French fevrefue or Old English feferfuge, both from Latin febrifugia, from febris ‎(“fever”) + fugō ‎(“I drive away”).

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