scabious
1 of 2noun
sca·bi·ous ˈskā-bē-əs 
ˈska-
: any of a genus (Scabiosa) of Old World herbs of the teasel family with terminal flower heads subtended by a leafy involucre
scabious
2 of 2adjective
1
: scabby
2
: of, relating to, or resembling scabies
scabious eruptions
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Tamara Abraham, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Oct. 2018
Adjective
Late summer stocks and scabious will both be in season, while foliage might include dogwood and skimmia. Tamara Abraham, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Oct. 2018 Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English scabiose, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin scabiosa, from Latin, feminine of scabiosus, adjective
Adjective
Latin scabiosus, from scabies
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
scabious
adjective
sca·bi·ous ˈskā-bē-əs
1
: relating to or characterized by scabs
2
: of, relating to, or resembling scabies
scabious eruptions