Obs. [See quot. 1878.] The plant Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris).
1597. Gerard, Herbal, cxci. § 1. 507. Brunell is called in English Prunell, Carpenters herbe, Selfeheale, and Hookeheale, and Sicklewoort.
1611. Cotgr., Oingtereule, Selfe-heale … Brunell, Prunell.
1878. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., Brunel, a modification of Brunella, the Latin name (now more frequently but less correctly written Prunella), which took its rise from the German die Braune, an ‘infirmitie among soldiers that lie in campe’ described by Gerard (p. 508); this appears to have been a kind of quinsey … for which the Prunella was deemed a specific.
