| 释义 |
bull-
[prob. in most cases = bull n.1; but bull-weed has the alternative form boll-weed, see boll n.1, which may be the etymon in some of the words. (The suggestion that bull- in some plant names may be a corruption of pool, is quite baseless.)]
A prefix occurring in certain names of plants, as bull-brier U.S., see quot.; bull-oak (see quot.); bull-plum, a sloe (Prunus spinosa), cf. however bullace; bull-sedge (see quot.); bull-weed, Centaurea nigra, = boll-weed; bull-wort, Ammi majus, also called Bishop-weed.
1860Bartlett Dict. Amer., *Bull Briar, a large briar..the root of which contains a farinaceous substance from which the Indians make bread.
1830J. G. Strutt Sylva Brit. 22 *Bull-Oaks..are thus denominated from the..circumstance of bulls taking shelter within them; which they effect..by retreating backwards into the cavity.
1770Foote Lame Lover iii. (D.) A plum-tree indeed, but not..a damascen plum; our proofs say loudly a *bull plum.
1879Prior Plant-names, *Bull-segg or sedge, the reed-mace.
a1450Alphita. (Anecd Oxon) 83 Iacea nigra..*Bulwed uel hardaw. 1597Gerard Herbal ccxcix. §1. 703 Harts ease is named..in English, Knapweede, Bull weede.
1598Florio, Ammi. the..herbe William, *bulwoort or bishops weede. |