scabious

scabious

English

Etymology 1

From Medieval Latin scabiōsus (“scabious”), from Latin scabiēs (see scabies).

Adjective

scabious (comparative more scabious, superlative most scabious)

1. Having scabs.
2. Of or pertaining to scabies.

Etymology 2

From Medieval Latin scabiōsa, substantive form of scabiōsus (“scabious”) (see Etymology 1).

Noun

scabious (plural scabiouses)

1. Any of various herbaceous plants of the genus Scabiosa.
   • 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, XII [Uniform ed., p. 128]:

     The grassy track, so gay with scabious and bedstraw, was snow-white at the bottom of its ruts.

2. Any of several plants of the genus Knautia.

Derived terms

• blue scabious, devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis)
• field scabious (Knautia arvensis)
• sheep's bit scabious (Jasione montana)
• sweet scabious (Erigeron spp.; Sixalix atropurpurea, syn. Scabiosa atropurpurea)