wormseed

[ wurm-seed ]

noun

1. the dried, unexpanded flower heads of a wormwood, Artemisia cina Levant wormseed, or the fruit of certain goosefoots, especially Chenopodium anthelminticum (or C. ambrosioides ), the Mexican tea or American wormseed, used as an anthelmintic drug.
2. any of these plants.

wormseed

/ ˈwɜːmˌsiːd /

noun

1. any of various plants having seeds or other parts used in medicine to treat worm infestation, esp an American chenopodiaceous plant, Chenopodium anthelminticum (or C. ambrosioides ) ( American wormseed ), and the santonica plant
2. the part of any of these plants that is used as an anthelmintic

Word History and Origins

Origin of wormseed¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, wormseed is from the Middle English word wyrmsed. See worm, seed

Example Sentences

I’m tempted to say the same for the crispy quesadillas, these half-moons that practically ooze grease, except I love the cool, minty effect of the dish’s wormseed leaves.

From Washington Post

Make a strong decoction of sage, two parts; wormseed, one part; strain, and add sugar enough to make into candy, and let the child eat of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Treatment.—One teaspoonful of powdered wormseed mixed with a sufficient quantity of molasses, or spread on bread and butter.

From Project Gutenberg

Combination: Oil of wormseed one ounce, oil of tansy one ounce, spirits of turpentine one and one-half ounce, castor oil one pint.

From Project Gutenberg

TREATMENT.—One teaspoonful of powdered wormseed mixed with a sufficient quantity of molasses, or spread on bread and butter.

From Project Gutenberg