Word Study
groundsel
CIDE DICTIONARY
groundsel, n. [OE. grundswilie, AS. grundeswylige, grundeswelge, earlier gundiswilge; gund matter, pus + swelgan to swallow. So named as being good for a running from the eye. See Swallow, v. ].
An annual composite plant (Senecio vulgaris ), one of the most common and widely distributed weeds on the globe.
groundsel, n. [Ground + sill.].
OXFORD DICTIONARY
groundsel, n. any composite plant of the genus Senecio, esp. S. vulgaris, used as a food for cage-birds.
Etymology
OE grundeswylige, gund{aelig}swelgi{aelig} (perh. = pus-absorber f. gund pus, with ref. to use for poultices)
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