feverfew

English
The flowers of the feverfew

Etymology

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

Noun

feverfew (countable and uncountable, 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.

Synonyms

Translations

References
  • Michael Quinion (2004) “Feverfew”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.
  • "Feverfew" in Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
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