santonica

[ san-ton-i-kuh ]

noun

1. the dried flower heads of any of several species of wormwood, belonging to the genus Artemisia, used as a vermifuge.

santonica

/ sænˈtɒnɪkə /

noun

1. an oriental wormwood plant, Artemisia cina (or maritima )
2. the dried flower heads of this plant, formerly used as a vermifuge

Word History and Origins

Origin of santonica¹

1650–60; < New Latin < Latin ( herba ) santonica (herb) of the Santonī a Gaulish tribe of Aquitania

Word History and Origins

Origin of santonica¹

C17: New Latin, from Late Latin herba santonica herb of the Santones (probably wormwood), from Latin Santonī a people of Aquitania

Example Sentences

Santonine, son′to-nin, n. a colourless crystalline poisonous compound contained in Santonica.

From Project Gutenberg

Worm′-pow′der, a vermifuge; Worm′-seed, santonica: the treacle mustard; Worm′-wheel, a wheel gearing with an endless screw or worm, receiving or imparting motion.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

The chief vegetation round the camp, is Santonica. 

From Project Gutenberg

Botanical features continue the same, Santonica being still the prevailing plant. 

From Project Gutenberg

They are covered with Centaurea fruticosa, and C. spinosa, a favourite food of camels when it has young shoots, Santonica, Statice, all of which grow precisely as before, Boragineæ, Compositæ, Labiatæ, and Papilionaceæ, are the predominant forms, and mostly of the same type: I observe a tendency among Boragineæ to have cup-shaped nuts. 

From Project Gutenberg