spurge

Meanings

Noun

• Any plant of the genus Euphorbia, a diverse genus of over 2,000 species.

Verb

• To emit foam; to froth; said of the emission of yeast from beer during fermentation.

Origin

• Late Middle English, from Old French espurge ("to purge"), espurgier, from Latin expurgo ("I purge"); the bitter milky sap of these plants was formerly used as a purgative.
• Uncertain.