Adderwort

/ˈædərwɜrt/ noun

Definition

A plant (possibly bistort or figwort) traditionally believed to have medicinal properties for treating adder bites or snakebites.

Etymology

Compound of 'adder' and Old English 'wyrt' (plant), literally 'adder's plant.' Many plants were named after the conditions they supposedly treated.

Kelly Says

Plants ending in '-wort' (like mugwort, figwort) were the original 'medicine cabinet'—and adderwort's name is basically an ancient label reading 'use me for snake bites!'

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