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hellebore

(hel′ə bôr′)

noun

any of a genus (Helleborus) of poisonous, winter-blooming plants of the buttercup family, with buttercuplike flowers of various colors: the rhizomes of a black European species (H. niger) were formerly used as a heart stimulant and cathartic
any of a genus (Veratrum) of poisonous plants of the lily family: the (V. album) and the (V. viride) were formerly used as cathartics, etc.

Origin: altered (after Gr) < ME ellebore < OFr < L helleborus < Gr helleboros, orig. prob. “plant eaten by fawns” < hellos, var. of ellos, fawn < base of elaphos, deer + bora, food (of beasts): for IE base see elk & voracious

See hellebore in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various plants of the genus Helleborus, native to Eurasia, most species of which are poisonous.
Any of various plants of the genus Veratrum, especially V. viride of North America, having large leaves and greenish flowers and yielding a toxic alkaloid used medicinally.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English ellebre

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin elleborus

Origin: , from Greek helleboros

Origin: : perhaps hellos, fawn

Origin: + -boros, eaten (from bibrōskein, to eat)

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