spurge
English
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /spɝdʒ/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /spɜːdʒ/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)dʒ
Etymology 1
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.
Noun
spurge (usually uncountable, plural spurges)
- Any plant of the genus Euphorbia, a diverse genus of over 2,000 species.
- 1855, Robert Browning, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”, X:
- But cockle, spurge, according to their law / Might propagate their kind, with none to awe, / You'd think; a burr had been a treasure trove.
- 1855, Robert Browning, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”, X:
Derived terms
- Allegheny spurge Pachysandra procumbens
- Japanese spurge Pachysandra terminalis
- spurge flax Thymelaea passerina
- spurge laurel Daphne laureola
- spurge nettle Cnidoscolus stimulosus
- spurge olive Daphne mezereum
- wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides
- Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia characias
- cypress spurge Euphorbia cyparissias
- tree spurge Euphorbia dendroides
- cushion spurge Euphorbia epithymoides
- leafy spurge Euphorbia esula
- sun spurge Euphorbia helioscopia
- mottled spurge Euphorbia lactea
- caper spurge, paper spurge, gopher spurge Euphorbia lathyris
- spotted spurge, prostrate spurge Euphorbia maculata
- myrtle spurge, creeping spurge Euphorbia myrsinites
- Indian spurge tree Euphorbia neriifolia
- sea spurge Euphorbia paralias
- Peking spurge Euphorbia pekinensis
- purple spurge Euphorbia peplis
- petty spurge Euphorbia peplus
- sand spurge Euphorbia psammogeton
- resin spurge Euphorbia resinifera
- gopher spurge, upright myrtle spurge Euphorbia rigida
- serrated spurge, sawtooth spurge Euphorbia serrata
- Indian tree spurge Euphorbia tirucalli
Translations
any plant of the genus Euphorbia
References
Etymology 2
Uncertain.
Verb
spurge (third-person singular simple present spurges, present participle spurging, simple past and past participle spurged)
- (intransitive) To emit foam; to froth; said of the emission of yeast from beer during fermentation.
- 1661, W. Cartwright, Siedge
- The body's somthing noysome: 'tis a stale one; / Good troth it spurgeth very monstrously.
- 1661, W. Cartwright, Siedge
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