Bellis_perennis

brȳse-wyrt

noun, f., i-decl., hapax legomenon

Type: plant

Last Update: 21.04.2011 18:20

Reference Last Update: 28.03.2022 21:25

  • wyrt (1);
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Meanings Last Update: 21.04.2011 18:08

  • A: plant: native
    Bellis perennis L., daisy, Gänseblümchen
  • B: plant: native
    Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell
  • C: plant: native Several native species.
    ??? Anagallis L., pimpernel, Gauchheil
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Comments Last Update: 22.03.2012 08:28

  • Comment on (A): Bellis perennis L., daisy, Gänseblümchen

    There only is one occurrence from an OE text, the identification is maily based on ME references. Cockayne suggests B. perennis (Laud 553), "plainly for Hembriswyrt" (1962,II,373) based on Bodley 178: "CONSOLIDA MINOR. Daysei is an herbe þat sum men callet hembrisworte oþer bonewort (1962,II,371)." For ME (most occurrences are from MSS dated after 1400) Hunt (1989,87-88) comprehensively documents that it belongs to the CONSOLIDA (MAIOR, MEDIA, MINOR) complex. BTS has no reference to this plant name; ClH(S), who also suggests 'soap wort' without any explanation, and the DOE support this identification.

    The medical indications provided by Grieve (1971, s.v.) match the OE use in a recipe for lungen adle. She cites Gerard: "inflammation [of] 'alle the inwarde parts' (1971, s.v.).

  • Comment on (B): Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell

    There only is one occurrence from an OE text, the identification is maily based on ME references. For ME (most occurrences are from MSS dated after 1400) Hunt (1989,87-88) comprehensively documents that it belongs to the CONSOLIDA (MAIOR, MEDIA, MINOR) complex. BTS has no reference to this plant name; the DOE supports this identification.

    The medical indications provided by Grieve (1971, s.v.) match the OE use in a recipe for lungen adle: "It is very similar in its emollient action to Marshmallow, but in many cases is even preferred to it […] It is highly esteemed for all pulmonary complaints, consumption and bleeding of the lungs. A strong decoction, or tea, is recommended in cases of internal haemorrhage, whether from the lungs […]"

  • Comment on (C): ??? Anagallis L., pimpernel, Gauchheil

    There only is one occurrence from an OE text, the identification is maily based on ME references. Cockayne (1962,II,373) suggests Anagallis L., pimpernel, Gauchheil based on ANAGALLIS brisewort, a ME gloss in Rawlinson c.506 and Harley 3388. Hunt convincingly links this ML plant name to Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell (cf. 1989,23), therefore we can eliminate A. as possible meaning.

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Occurrence Last Update: 15.07.2009 08:07

  • Med 5.8 (Cockayne) (B21.5.8), 3.1 brysewyrt
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Images Last Update: 21.04.2011 18:20

Bellis perennis L., daisy, Gänseblümchen

Bellis_perennis

Botanical-Information: stylised plate

Kops, Jan. Flora Batava. 1. Deel. Amsterdam: J. C. Sepp en Zoon, 1800.

Symphytum officinale L., common comfrey, Arznei-Beinwell

Symphytum_officinale_bd4_tafel_022

Botanical-Information: stylised plate

Thomé, Otto Wilhelm. Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. In 4 Mappen ; 531 Tafeln in naturgetreuen Farben mit 668 Pflanzenarten. Leipzip: Teubner, 1938.

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Research Literature

ClH: Clark Hall, John Richard. A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. 4th ed. MART 14. Cambridge: University Press, 1960.
DOE: Cameron, Angus, Ashley Crandell Amos, Antonette di Paolo Healey, et al. (eds.). Dictionary of Old English (A to G). CD-Rom. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies for the Dictionary of Old English Project, 2008.
Cockayne, Oswald Thomas (ed.). "Leechdoms from Fly Leaves of Mss." In: Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft of Early England. Being a Collection of Documents, for the Most Part never before Printed, Illustrating the History of Sience in this Country before the Norman Conquest. Vol. 1. Rev. Ed. by Charles Singer. London: Holland Press, 1961. 374-383.
Cockayne, Oswald Thomas (ed.). Leechdoms, Wortcunning and Starcraft of Early England. 3 vols. with a New Introduction by Charles Singer. Rev. Ed. London: Holland Press, 1961.
: Grieve, Maude. A Modern Herbal. Unabridged reprint of 1931. Dover. 1971. .
Hunt, Tony. Plant Names of Mediaeval England. Cambridge: Brewer, 1989.