Obs. Forms: see WOOD sb.1; 4–6 -sour, 5 -sowr, -soure, -soour, 6 -sore, -sower. [f. WOOD sb.1 + SOUR sb., corresp. to ON. skógarsúra (skóg SCOGH, wood, súra sorrel), Da. skovsyre. Cf. (= sorrel) MDu. suerkruyd, suerick, Du. zuring, WFris. sûrblêdden pl., G. sauerampfer, etc., and (= wood-sorrel) G. sauerklee, sauerkraut, Da. surklever, etc.] = prec.

1

a. 1387.  Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 10. Alleluia, i. wodesour.

2

a. 1425.  trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 68. Panis cuculi alleluya, i. wodsour, is a treyfole growyng vnder buschez and bereþ white flourez, is a ful sour herbe.

3

1538.  Turner, Libellus, Oxys … a latinis dicitur trifolium acetosum, ab officinis Aleluya, uulgus etiam uocat Alleluya wodsore, & cuckowes meat. Ibid. (1562), Herbal, II. 74. Oxys … shuld be called wod sour or sorell.

4

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, IV. xliii. 503. This herbe is called … in English Woodsorel … and Woodsower.

5

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, Suppl., Woodsower is Oxys.

6