tormentil

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: tor=men=til

CIDE DICTIONARY

tormentil, n. [F. tormentille; cf. Pr., It., & NL. tormentilla, Sp. tormentila; all fr. L. tormentum pain. So called because it is said to allay pain. See Torment.].

 A rosaceous herb (Potentilla Tormentilla), the root of which is used as a powerful astringent, and for alleviating gripes, or tormina, in diarrhea.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tormentil, n. a low-growing plant, Potentilla erecta, with bright yellow flowers and a highly astringent rootstock used in medicine.

Etymology

ME f. OF tormentille f. med.L tormentilla, of unkn. orig.