all bonesn.

Etymology: In α. forms < all adv. + the plural of bone n.¹; in β. forms < all adv. + bone n.¹; both ultimately after classical Latin holosteon and its etymon Hellenistic Greek ὁλόστεον, kind of plantain < ancient Greek ὁλο- holo- comb. form + ὀστέον bone (see osteo- comb. form), so called on account either of the numerous leaf veins (resembling bones) or of the brittle, jointed stem. With later use compare also scientific Latin Stellaria holostea ( Linnaeus Species plantarum (1753) I. 144). Compare all-bony n.Pliny, and some subsequent authors, thought the name ironic, as the plant was tender rather than stiff. It is unclear whether quot. 1693 reflects actual currency of the English name, or simply glosses the Latin or Greek names, as in the following cases:1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxvii. x. 283 (margin) For the word signifieth, All bone.1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. l. 405 Some others again [sc. Herbs and Plants] have obtained their Denominations by way of Antiphrasis, or Contrariety; as..Holosteon, as if it were all Bones, whilst on the contrary, there is no frailer, tenderer nor britler Herb in the whole Production of Nature than it.