Feverfew
/ˈfiː.və.fjuː/noun
A small aromatic perennial plant traditionally used in herbal medicine, especially for headaches and fever.
Did you know?Its name comes from Latin febrifugia, “fever-expelling,” and its reputation as a medicinal herb helped preserve that almost magical linguistic image.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dhegʷh-
“To burn or be hot; the remote root behind fever-related words.”
Classical Latin
Latin
febris
“Fever, a state of bodily heat.”
Classical Latin
Latin
febrifugium
“A remedy or substance that drives away fever; literally “fever-fleeing.””
Old English
Old English
febrifugia
“The medicinal plant name borrowed from Latin, associated with expelling fever.”
Middle English
English
feverfue
“The plant name, reshaped through English pronunciation and folk association with “fever” and “flee.””
Modern English
English
feverfew
“The common name of Tanacetum parthenium, a traditional medicinal herb.”