[Cf. LG. wulfsmelk, MHG. wolfmilch, (G. wolfs-), Da. ulvemelk, etc.]
1. a. A spurge, esp. the sun-spurge, Euphorbia Helioscopia; so called from the acrid milky juice.
1575. Banister, Chyrurg., 101. Esula, Woulfes milke.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 364/1. For the Felone of the Finger. Take the herbe called Woluesmilcke, tye the same with the Flowers on the Felon [etc.].
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., V. 5. Euphorbia helioscopia (Sun Spurge) … Country people call it … Wolf’s-milk.
1897. R. N. Bain, trans. Jókai’s Pretty Michal, xxv. 201. The witch took freshly plucked wolf’s-milk flowers.
b. The fungus Lycogala.
1861. H. Macmillan, Footn. Page Nat., 288. The beautiful round vermilion balls of the Lycogala, or Wolf’s milk.
2. The milk of a wolf.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VII. 115. Half the wolf’s-milk curdled in their veins.
1892. Rider Haggard, Nada, xvii. They have drunk wolf’s milk.
