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Webster 1913 Edition

Wormwood

Worm′wood

,
Noun.
[AS.
werm[GREEK]d
, akin to OHG.
wermuota
,
wormuota
, G.
wermuth
,
wermut
; of uncertain origin.]
1.
(Bot.)
A composite plant (
Artemisia Absinthium
), having a bitter and slightly aromatic taste, formerly used as a tonic and a vermifuge, and to protect woolen garments from moths. It gives the peculiar flavor to the cordial called absinthe. The volatile oil is a narcotic poison. The term is often extended to other species of the same genus.
2.
Anything very bitter or grievous; bitterness.
Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and
wormwood
.
Deut. xxix. 18.
Roman wormwood
(Bot.)
,
an American weed (
Ambrosia artemisiaefolia
); hogweed.
–
Tree wormwood
(Bot.)
,
a species of Artemisia (probably
Artemisia variabilis
) with woody stems.
–
Wormwood hare
(Zool.)
,
a variety of the common hare (
Lepus timidus
); – so named from its color.

Webster 1828 Edition

Wormwood

WORMWOOD

,
Noun.
[G.] A plant, the artemisia. It has a bitter nauseous taste; but it is stomachic and corroborant.
Tree-wormwood, a species of Artemisia, with woody stalks.

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