any of various urticaceous plants of the S and W European genus Parietaria, esp P. diffusa (pellitory-of-the-wall or wall pellitory), that grow in crevices and have long narrow leaves and small pink flowers
2. pellitory of Spain
Word origin
C16 peletre, from Old French piretre, from Latin pyrethrum, from Greek purethron, from pur fire, from the hot pungent taste of the root
pellitory in American English
(ˈpɛlɪˌtɔri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpelliˌtories
1.
any of a genus (Parietaria) of plants of the nettle family, often grown as an ornamental
: in full wall pellitory
2.
a Mediterranean plant (Anacyclus pyrethrum) of the composite family, whose root was formerly used to relieve toothache
: in full pellitory of Spain
Word origin
altered < ME peritorie < OFr paritoire < L parietaria < parietarius, of walls < paries: see paries