[f. SWALLOW sb.1 + WORT; in sense 1 rendering early mod.G. schwalbenwurtz (cf. obs. Du. swaelemwortel) = med.L. hirundaria; in sense 2 rendering Du. zwaluwkruid = mod.L. chelīdonium, Gr. χελῑδόνιον (see CELANDINE).]
1. The herb Vincetoxicum officinale, formerly called Asclepias (or Cynanchum) Vincetoxicum; from the form of the pods, suggesting a swallow with outspread wings. Hence extended to the genus Asclepias generally.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes, 17. Asclepias … may be called in englishe Swallowurt.
1651. French, Distill., ii. 52. Take Swallow-wort.
1785. Martyn, Lett. Bot., xvi. (1794), 216. Common Swallow wort, or Tame poison.
1822. Good, Study Med., III. 405. One or two species of asclepias or swallow-wort.
b. An umbelliferous plant, Elæoselinum (or Thapsia) Asclepium.
1866. Treas. Bot.
2. The Greater Celandine, Chelidonium majus.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. xx. 31. The great Celandyne is called … in English Celandyne, Swallowurte, and of some Tetterwurte.
1635. Swan, Spec. Mundi (1670), 220. Celandine or Swallow-wort.
1858. A. Irvine, Handbk. Brit. Plants, Index.
