Middle English Dictionary Entry
apium n.
Entry Info
| Forms | apium n. |
| Etymology | Cp. ache n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Wild celery or smallage (Apium graveolens), commun ~; also, any of certain plants (esp. of the ranunculus family) having celery-like foliage; ~ of emeroides, ~ of frogge, ~ of laughing.
Associated quotations
- [ a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)11/33 : Apium emoroidarum..Angl.appellatur crowefet. ]
- [ a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)13/34 : Aquileia..apium risus appellatur. ]
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.305 : Sardinia..haþ..an herbe þat hatte apium, þat makeþ men laughe hem selue to deþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)215b/a-b : Merche hatte apium, and is a comune herbe..Of merche and apium is oþer maner kynde, as apium of frogge..ofte y founde in watry places wher frogges beþ..Apium risis, of laughhynge..purgeþ malencolik humour..If it is y ete or y dronke in greet quantite, it sleeþ a man wiþ lawȝenge, and helpeþ also aȝeins þe stoon..Apium of emoroydes haþ þat name, for pouder þerof y leyd þerto fordryeþ þe bledynge..Comyn apium, comyn merche, vnstoppiþ and openeþ þe spleen and brekeþ þe stoon and destroyeþ þe Iaundys.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)50/17 : Þe iuyse alon of apii, with hony and white of ane ey.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)29b/b : Take þe roote of apium ranarum.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)14/7 : Tak apyum & absinthium.