Bot. Also 8 euonymous. [ad. L. euōnymos (Plin. XIII. xxxviii. § 118), subst. use of Gr. εὐώνυμος of good name, lucky, f. εὐ- (see EU-) + ὄνομα, in Æolic ὄνυμα name.
Pliny says that the flowering of the euonymus was a presage of pestilence; hence it seems probable that the name ‘lucky’ was given with euphemistic intention.]
A genus of shrubs (N.O. Celastraceæ), of which many species are now cultivated as ornamental plants. The only British species is the Spindle-tree, otherwise known as the Peg-, Prick-, Skewer-wood from the uses to which its wood is applied.
1751. Sir J. Hill, Hist. Plants, 239 (Jod.). Euonymous with broad, lanceolated, and serrated leaves. Virginian Spindle-tree.
1767. J. Abercrombie, Ev. Man his own Gard. (1803), 180. Deciduous flowering shrubs … such as … candleberry, myrtle, dog-wood, or euonymus.
1785. J. M. Mason, Notes on Shaks., 349. The euonymus, of which the best skewers are made, is called Prick-wood.
1882. Garden, 21 Jan., 37/1. Many varieties of the Euonymus are finely variegated.
b. U.S. Pharmacopœia. The bark of an American species (E. atropurpureus), called also the Wahoo-tree.
1876. Bartholow, Mat. Med. (1879), 484. Euonymus possesses cathartic properties similar to rhubarb.
