Obs. exc. as botanical Latin. Also 6 philypendula. [mod.L. fem. of fīlipendulus hanging by a thread, f. fīlum thread + pendulus hanging, f. pendēre to hang. Cf. Fr. filipendule.] The drop-wort (Spiræa Filipendula).
1540[?]. trans. Vigo’s Lyttel Practyce, A iij/2. Rotes of Philypendula.
1548. Turner, Names of Herbes, 56. Oenanthe is called boeth of the Herbaries and of al our countrey men Filipendula, in duch Rotensteynbrech.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 364. What Shepherd is ignorant that his Flock feedeth upon Filipendula, Daisies [etc.]?
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Filipendula, Drop-wort or Red Saxifrage, an Herb, the Root of which in a Decoction provokes Urine and expels Gravel.
