Furbish lousewort

[ fur-bish ]
/ ˈfɜr bɪʃ /

noun

See under lousewort.

Origin of Furbish lousewort

1975–80; after Kate Furbish (1834–1931), U.S. botanist, its discoverer

Definition for furbish lousewort (2 of 2)

lousewort
[ lous-wurt, -wawrt ]
/ ˈlaʊsˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt /

noun

any plant belonging to the genus Pedicularis, of the figwort family, as the wood betony, formerly supposed to cause lice in sheep feeding on it: one species, P. furbishiae (Furbish lousewort), of parts of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, having finely toothed leaves and a cluster of yellow flowers, is endangered and was thought to be extinct until specimens were discovered in 1946 and again in 1976.

Origin of lousewort

First recorded in 1570–80; louse + wort2

British Dictionary definitions for furbish lousewort

lousewort
/ (ˈlaʊsˌwɜːt) /

noun

any of various N temperate scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Pedicularis, having spikes of white, yellow, or mauve flowers See also betony (def. 3)