[f. as prec. + WORT.] A name applied to various plants having red roots or leaves, or popularly supposed to stanch blood or to draw blood. Among these are the Bloody Dock (Rumex sanguineus), the Dwarf Elder or Danewort (Sambucus Ebulus); also Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), the American Blood-root (Sanguinaria canadensis), and genus Hæmodorum.
c. 1250. Gloss., in Wright, Voc., 140. Bursa pastoris, sanguinarie, blodwurt.
1538. Leland, Itin., V. 4. A certen Bloodeworth growith ther wher the Bloode was shedde.
1552. Huloet, Bludwort herb, or that which stoppeth bloud.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. xlv. 380. This herbe is called … in Englishe Walwort, Danewort, and Bloodwort.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., III. xxii. 405. Lapathum Sanguineum … Bloodwort, cleanses the blood much.
1812. Withering, Bot. Arrangem. (1830), II. iv. 235. Sanguisorba officinalis, Wild Burnet, Bloodwort.
1872. Rossetti, Ho. of Life (1882), li. With tear-spurge wan, with blood-wort burning red.
