Sow-thistle

Also sowthistle, sow thistle. Forms: (see SOW sb.¹ and THISTLE sb.). [Early ME. suȝeþistel, perh. an alteration of the earlier þuȝe-, þúþistel (see THOWTHISTLE), but cf. also OHG. sûdistel, MLG. sudistel, sögedistel, G. saudistel, as the name of various plants. Down to the 17th c. usually written as one word.]

  1.  One or other of the species of Sonchus; a plant belonging to this genus, esp. S. oleraceus and S. asper, common European weeds characterized by their sharply toothed thistle-like leaves and milky juice.

a. 1225.  MS. Bodley 130, lf. 37 b. Cardun, sugeþithstel.

a. 1387.  Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 37. Rostrum porcinum, sowethistel.

14[?].  Medical MS., in Anglia, XIX. 84. Take þe sow-thystill & late hym sethyn in whyt wyn.

c. 1450.  Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 89. Labrum ueneris,… sough thistil.

c. 1475.  MS. Bodley 536, lf. 16 b. Labrum veneris, sowthestell, when y^e [stalk ?] is broke he droppes mylke. And he beris ȝowlo floure.

1539.  Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 28 b. I suppose that Southistel and Dentdelyon, be of lyke qualities [to cichory].

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 44. The other that be Sommer Weedes, as Sowthystell, and all other Thystels.

1639.  O. Wood, Alph. Bk. Secrets, 70. Sorrell, Succory, Dandelion, and Sowthistle.

1652.  Blithe, Eng. Improver Impr., 109. When any of these Rich Lands shall … Over-grow with Weeds, Nettles, Hemlocks, Sow-Thistles, &c.

c. 1711.  Petiver, Gazophyl., VIII. lxxx. A Sowthistle with purple Flowers.

1770.  G. White, Selborne, xxxviii. Milky plants, such as lettuces, dandelions, sow-thistles, are its favourite dish.

1845–50.  Mrs. Lincoln, Lect. Bot., 208. This is very observable in the sowthistle, Sonchus arvensis.

1855.  Delamer, Kitchen Garden (1861), 106. Even although we may be inclined to refuse the sowthistle [as a salad-plant].

  fig.  1644.  Milton, Educ. (1738), 136. We have now to hale and drag our choicest and hopefullest wits to that asinine feast of sowthistles and brambles, which is commonly set before them.

  attrib. and Comb.  1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Thistle, The purple-flowered field-Cirsium, with … sow-thistle leaves. Ibid. The … sow-thistle-leaved field-Cirsium.

  b.  Applied to species of the allied genera Lactuca and Prenanthes. ? Obs.

a. 1387.  Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 27. Lactucella,… sowethistel.

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Sow Thistle, Prenanthes.

  2.  With distinguishing or descriptive terms, as blue, common, corn, marsh, prickly (etc.) sow-thistle; broad-, round-, spiny-leaved, blue-, small-, white-flowered sow-thistle (see quots.).

1796.  Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), III. 674. Sonchus canadensis. *Blue Sowthistle.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxxi. 231. Sonchus flore cæruleo. *Blew flowred Sowthistle. Ibid., 230. Sonchus læuis latifolius. *Broad leafed Sowthistle.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Sonchus, The *common sowthistle is … recommended … as a refrigerant.

1842.  Penny Cycl., XXII. 240/2. The most common species is the Sonchus oleraceus, the common sow-thistle.

1796.  Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), III. 674. Sonchus arvensis. *Corn, or Tree Sowthistle.

1855.  Miss Pratt, Flower. Plants, III. 200. Corn Sow-thistle, Milk-thistle.

1771.  Encycl. Brit., III. 617/2. The [sonchus] palustris, or *marsh sow-thistle.

1889.  Science-Gossip, XXV. 45/2. I found the marsh sow-thistle growing abundantly in this district.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxxi. 229. Sonchus asper. *Prickly Sowthistle.

1725.  Fam. Dict., Sow-Thistle,… a Plant of which there are two sorts, viz. the Hare’s-Thistle and prickly Sow-Thistle.

1846–50.  A. Wood, Class-bk. Bot., 363. Sonchus asper. *Rough Sow Thistle.

c. 1710.  Petiver, Cat. Ray’s Eng. Herbal, Tab. xiv. *Round leav’d Sowthistle.

1853.  Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., II. 34. The *Small-flowered Sow-Thistle (>Sonchus Floridanus).

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, 229. Hares lettuce or *smooth Sowthistle.

1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v., The smooth Sow-Thistle has the same Properties as the other.

1758.  Phil. Trans., L. 513. Smooth or unprickly Sowthistle, Hares Lettuce.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxxi. 231. Sonchus flore niueo. *Snowe white Sowthistle.

1847.  Darlington, Amer. Weeds (1860), 206. The *Spiny-leaved Sow-thistle (S. asper).

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxxi. 231. Sonchus arborescens. *Tree Sowthistle.

1766.  Museum Rust., VI. 444. Tree Sowthistle [S. arvensis]. The root is very creeping, full of milk, and with difficulty eradicated.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. xxxi. 230. Sonchus læuis flore albo. *White flowred Sowthistle. Ibid., 231. Sonchus syluaticus. *Wood Sowthistle.

  b.  Downy, Tangier sow-thistle (see quots.).

1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 327. Tangier Sow Thistle, Scorzonera. Ibid., 329. Downy Sow Thistle, Andryala.