pellitory Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun herb that grows in crevices having long narrow leaves and small pink apetalous flowers
    wall pellitory; pellitory-of-the-wall; Parietaria difussa.
  2. noun a small Mediterranean plant containing a volatile oil once used to relieve toothache
    Anacyclus pyrethrum; pellitory-of-Spain.

WordNet

Pel"li*to*ry noun
Etymology
OE. paritorie, OF. paritoire, F. pariétaire; (cf. It. & Sp. parietaria), L. parietaria the parietary, or pellitory, the wall plant, fr. parietarus belonging to the walls, fr. paries, parietis a wall. Cf. Parietary.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The common name of the several species of the genus Parietaria, low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; -- also called wall pellitory, and lichwort. ✍ Parietaria officinalis is common on old walls in Europe; P.Pennsylvanica is found in the United States; and six or seven more species are found near the Mediterranean, or in the Orient.
Pel"li*to*ry noun
Etymology
Sp. pelitre, fr. L. pyrethrum. See Bertram.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) (a) A composite plant (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) of the Mediterranean region, having finely divided leaves and whitish flowers. The root is the officinal pellitory, and is used as an irritant and sialogogue. Called also bertram, and pellitory of Spain. (b) The feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium); -- so called because it resembles the above.

Webster 1913