Forms: 6 bramkersine, branke ursyne, 6–7 -ursine, 7 branck vrsin, 7–9 brank-ursin, 8 branch-ursine, -hircin, 7– brank-ursine. [ad. med.L. branca ursīna lit. ‘bear’s claw,’ cf. F. branc-, branche-ursine, which may be the immediate source.]
Bear’s breech, Acanthus. (Erroneously applied to the Cow-parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium.))
1551. Turner, Herbal (1568), I. B j. Acanthus is called of ye barbarus wryters branca ursina, in English branke Ursyne.
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 98. Take … of the roots of Bramkersine … a quarter of a pound.
1610. Markham, Masterp., II. clxxiii. Branckvrsin is a wonderfull great mollifier.
1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), II. Acanthus, the herb branch-hircin, as having leaves like a goat’s horn; or brank-ursin, or bear’s-foot, from its shagginess.
1833. Penny Cycl., I. 68/2. The brank-ursine is identical with the common architectural and sculptural acanthus.
