fumitory

[ fyoo-mi-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
/ ˈfyu mɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun, plural fu·mi·to·ries.

any plant of the genus Fumaria, especially a delicate herb, F. officinalis, having finely dissected, grayish leaves and spikes of purplish flowers.

Origin of fumitory

1350–1400; alteration of earlier fumiterre, Middle English fumetere < Middle French < Medieval Latin fūmus terrae literally, smoke of the earth; literal sense uncertain

Words nearby fumitory

fumigate, fumigator, fuming, fuming nitric acid, fuming sulphuric acid, fumitory, fumitory family, fumy, fumé, fun, fun and games

Example sentences from the Web for fumitory

British Dictionary definitions for fumitory

fumitory
/ (ˈfjuːmɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun plural -ries

any plant of the chiefly European genus Fumaria, esp F. officinalis, having spurred flowers and formerly used medicinally: family Fumariaceae

Word Origin for fumitory

C14: from Old French fumetere, from Medieval Latin fūmus terrae, literally: smoke of the earth; see fume