Foxglove
/ˈfɒksˌɡlʌv/noun
A tall plant with tubular flowers, especially digitalis, whose leaves contain powerful cardiac glycosides.
Did you know?Foxglove’s scientific name, Digitalis, comes from Latin digitus, meaning “finger,” because the blossoms fit like tiny thimbles—while the plant itself became famous for producing a powerful heart drug.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
foxes glofa
“literally “fox’s glove,” a folk name for the plant”
Middle English
ME
foxglove
“the same plant name, gradually fused into one word”
18th Century
Latin
Digitalis
“the botanical genus name, from “finger,” referring to the finger-shaped flowers”
Modern English
English
foxglove
“the common name for Digitalis and related ornamental or medicinal plants”