[DOCK sb.1; cf. OE. éa-docce lit. river-dock, EDOCKE.] A name for various aquatic species of Rumex; formerly also applied to other broad-leaved water-plants.
c. 1450. Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 94. Lappacium aquaticum, uel lappacium maius, angl. waterdokke uel edokke.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Hydrolapathon, water dockes.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. lxxviii. 312. Of water Dockes.
c. 1710. Petiver, Cat. Ray’s Eng. Herbal, Tab. ii. Great Water Dock.
1882. Jefferies, Bevis, III. 194. Great water-docks at the margin with leaves almost a yard long.
attrib. 1496. Bk. St. Albans, Fishing, i j. In Iuyll take … the water docke leyf worme & the hornet worme togyder.
1757. A. Cooper, Distiller, III. lxx. (1760), 270. Of the Water-Dock-Root, five Ounces.
1807. W. Roscoe, Butterfly’s Ball (1838), 20. A Mushroom their Table, and on it was laid A Water-dock Leaf, which a Table-cloth made.
