wormwood hare

1 definition found

wormwood hare - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Wormwood \Worm"wood\, n. [AS. werm?d, akin to OHG. wermuota,
     wormuota, G. wermuth, wermut; of uncertain origin.]
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     1. (Bot.) A composite plant (Artemisia Absinthium), having
        a bitter and slightly aromatic taste, formerly used as a
        tonic and a vermifuge, and to protect woolen garments from
        moths. It gives the peculiar flavor to the cordial called
        absinthe. The volatile oil is a narcotic poison. The term
        is often extended to other species of the same genus.
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     2. Anything very bitter or grievous; bitterness.
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              Lest there should be among you a root that beareth
              gall and wormwood.                    --Deut. xxix.
                                                    18.
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     Roman wormwood (Bot.), an American weed (Ambrosia  artemisiaefolia
        ); hogweed.
  
     Tree wormwood (Bot.), a species of Artemisia (probably
        Artemisia variabilis) with woody stems.
  
     Wormwood hare (Zool.), a variety of the common hare (Lepus  timidus
        ); -- so named from its color.
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