Obs. Also 7 sparragus, 7–8 ’sparagus, 8 speragas. [a. med.L. sparagus, aphetic form of ASPARAGUS.] Asparagus.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., 196 b/1. Sparagus is hoote and drye.
1607. Dekker, Iests to make you merry, Wks. (Grosart), II. 304. The flower sparagus, that growes out of euery mans dunge, and contemned of euery man.
1611–40. [see ASPARAGUS 1 δ].
1669. Cokaine, Poems, 247. What delicate Sparagus you have growing there.
c. 1711. Petiver, Gazophyl., VI. lvii. Prickly tern-feathered Cape Sparagus.
1711. Tempest, Cryes of London, 27. Ripe Speragas.
1785. Cowper, Lett. In May we shall have ’sparagus.
attrib. 1640. R. Brome (title), The Sparagus Garden.
1668. Pepys, Diary, 22 April. Over to the ’sparagus garden.
