Forms: 3 cumfirie, 5 confirie, -fyrie, -ye, cowmfory, -phory, 5–6 comfory, -ie, 6 camforye, comferie, cumphorie, 6–8 comfery, 7 camfrey, comfrie, cumfry, -frey, 6– comfrey, -fry. [a. OF. confirie, confire, confière, in med.L. cumfiria; of obscure etymology.
The L. names of the plant were consolida and conferva; in med.L. also confirma, conserva; all referring to its healing virtues (‘quia habet vim consolidandi’). The F. and Eng. word has been variously viewed as a corruption of confirma, or of conferva, more prob. the latter. An OF. synonym, or name of a species, consire, concire, concierge, was prob. similarly related to conserva. Cf. CONSOUND.]
1. The English name of Symphytum officinale (N.O. Boraginaceæ), a tall plant, common on margins of streams and ditches, with rough leaves, and drooping clusters of yellowish-white or reddish-purple bell-shaped flowers; formerly esteemed as a vulnerary. b. Also applied to other species, as Tuberous Comfrey, S. tuberosum, a similar but smaller plant, with tuberous root; Prickly Comfrey, S. asperrimum, a native of the Caucasus, cultivated for its handsome blue flowers, and also as a forage-plant. c. Wild Comfrey (of N. America), Cynoglossum virginicum (Miller, Plant-n.).
[c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 162. Ðeos wyrt þe man confirman & oðrum naman galluc nemneð Ibid., I. 376. Ad fluxum sanguinis.—Accipe de confirma, hoc est consolida.]
c. 1265. Plant Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 555. Cumfiria, cumfirie, galloc.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 97. Cow(m)fory, herbe, consolida major, et minor dicitur daysy.
c. 1450. Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 9. Anagallicum … Gall. (et angl.) confirie uel cornsilie [v.r. anglice counsilie].
c. 1450. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 574/40. Confiria, anglice confyrye, confyrie.
1530. Palsgr., 202/2. Camforye herbe, la grande consolde.
1567. Baker, Jewell of Health, 53. The water of the greater Comferie druncke, helpeth such as are bursten, and that haue broken the bone of the legge.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. ciii. 145. The rootes of Comfery … healeth all inwarde woundes, and burstings.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., III. xxii. 396. Comfrey … it is a Wound-herb.
1888. Times, 3 Jan., 10/1. Cultivating prickly comfrey, found to be a most profitable crop, well suited for fodder.
1888. Daily News, 21 June, 2/1. The comfreys are opening by the margin of the stream.
† 2. Applied to other plants, chiefly as a rendering of L. Consolida or Symphytum: Middle C., the Bugle, Ajuga reptans; Saracen’s C., the Broad-leaved Groundsel, Senecio saracenicus; Spotted C., Wild C., the Lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis (see also 1 c.). Obs.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. lxxxv. 125. Of some it is called in Latine Symphitum Syluestre, whiche may be Englisshed wilde Comfrey … we call it in English Sage of Jerusalem, & Cowslip of Jerusalem. Ibid., I. xc. 133. It is called Consolida media: in English Middell Consounde, or Middle Comfery, and Bugle. Ibid., I. xcix. 141. This herbe is now called in Latine … Consolida Sarracenica … in English Sarrasines Consounde or Sarrasines Comfery.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 72/2. The spotted Comfery is the Cowslip of Jerusalem.
3. attrib.
1572. Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Oxen (1627), 79. Giue him to drinke of Cumphorie hearbe stamped with milke or ale, for that will helpe to knit the bones.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, 661. It is called … in English Comfrey, Comfrey Consound, of some Knit backe.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physic (1762), 118. Boil Comfrey Roots to a thick Mucilage.
