spignel

Meaning

Noun

• Meum athamanticum, an ornamental plant in the Apiaceae family found in mountain areas in Central and Western Europe, with roots and feathery leaves used as food and for medicinal purposes.
• Preceded by a descriptive word: a plant resembling Meum athamanticum.
• The dried, powdered root of Meum athamanticum used as a cooking spice or a medicine.

Origin

• Either:
• an alteration of Middle English spigurnel, borrowed from Anglo-Norman spigurnel, spigurnelle, and Anglo-Latin spigurnella, further etymology unknown; or
• from spike + nail, because of the shape of its capillary leaves.