Forms: 1 sperewyrt, 3 -wurt, 5 -wourt(h, 5–7 -wort, 6 -wurte; 4–5 sperwort, 6 sperworte; 8 speerwort; 6 spearewoort (7 -wort), 6– spearwort. [f. SPEAR sb.1 Cf. G. speerkraut, -wurz.]
† 1. Elecampane (Inula Helenium). Obs.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 210. ʓenim þas wyrte þe man hinnula campana, & oþrum naman spere wyrte nemneþ.
a. 1100. in Wr.-Wülcker, 299. Innule campane, sperewyrt.
c. 1265. Voc. Plants, Ibid. 558. Hinnula campana, sperewurt.
† 2. = NEP sb.2 Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 135. Nap siluatica, sperewyrt, uel wilde næp.
3. One or other of several species of ranunculus, esp. R. Flammula (lesser or small spearwort) and R. Lingua (great spearwort).
The identity of the plant in quot. c. 1450 is doubtful.
a. 1387. Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 21. Flammula, i. sperwort, calidus est et siccus in quarto gradu.
a. 1400. Stockholm Med. MS., 185. Sperewourt or launcelef. Ibid., 189. Þe lesse sperewourth.
c. 1450. Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 23. Borith, nonaclum cirurgie, lanceolata aquatica idem,… sperewort.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 54. Ther is a grasse called sperewort, and hath a long narowe leafe, lyke a spereheed, and it wyll growe a fote hyghe, and beareth a yelowe floure.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccclv. 815. Spearewoort is like to the other Crowfootes in facultie, it is hot in the mouth or biting, it exulcerateth and raiseth blisters.
1614. Markham, Cheap Husb., I. xxx. 79. The grasse which is vnwholesome for Sheepe, is that which hath growing amongst it, Spearewort, Pennywort, or Penny-grasse.
1635. Swan, Spec. M. (1670), 219. Spear-wort, or Banewort, is an herb which if it be taken inwardly, is deadly.
c. 1710. Petiver, Cat. Ray’s Eng. Herbal, Tab. xxxix. Great Spear-wort. Small Spear-wort.
1763. Mills, Pract. Husb., III. 312. The hairy wood grass, the lesser spearwort,… have evidently suspicious marks.
1848. C. A. Johns, Week at Lizard, 210. Lined … with … aquatic plants, among which the great spear-wort … is … conspicuous.
1865. Reader, No. 153. 628/2. The little dwarf spearwort.
1890. Science-Gossip, XXVI. 44/1. It is a well-known variety of the lesser spearwort…, which I have found in a very fine condition in Sussex.
b. Mentioned as used by beggars to produce artificial blisters or sores.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), 44. All for the most parte … wil either lay to their legs an herb called Sperewort, eyther Arsnicke, which is called Ratesbane.
1608. Dekker, Belman of London, Wks. (Grosart), III. 99. With Sperewort or Arsenick will they in one night poyson their leg be it neuer so sound, and raise a blister, which at their pleasure they can take off againe.
1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 74. Sperewort or Arsnick … will draw blisters.
Hence Spearworty a., diseased through the eating of spearwort. ? Obs.
1736. Pegge, Kenticisms (E. D. S.), 48. The liver of a rotten sheep, when it is full of white knots, is said to be speer-worty.
