Definitions for: Wormwood

[n] any of several low composite herbs of the genera Artemisia or Seriphidium

Webster (1913) Definition: Worm"wood, n. [AS. werm?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
artemisi[ae]folia}); hogweed.

Tree wormwood (Bot.), a species of Artemisia (probably
Artemisia variabilis) with woody stems.

Wormwood hare (Zo["o]l.), a variety of the common hare
(Lepus timidus); -- so named from its color.

See Also: absinthe, Artemis pontica, Artemisia abrotanum, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia annua, Artemisia campestris, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia maritima, Artemisia stelleriana, aster family, Asteraceae, beach wormwood, common wormwood, Compositae, dusty miller, family Asteraceae, family Compositae, field wormwood, lad's love, mugwort, old man, old woman, prairie sagewort, Roman wormwood, sea wormwood, Seriphidium maritimum, southernwood, subshrub, suffrutex, sweet wormwood, wormwood sage

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