Obs. Herb. [Cloftunge, cloftong occur as glossing scelerata, and thus as another form of cluf-þung(e, CLOFFING, whence app. altered by ‘popular etymology.’] (See quot.)
c. 1325. Gloss., in MS. Bodley 130. Scelerata, gl. cloftunge. Gl. Harl. 3388. Cicuta, cloftunke. Gl. Sloane 405. Scelerata herba vel apium risus, anglice cloftong (quoted in Sax. Leechd., II. Gloss.).
1671. Skinner (Britten & H.), Cloven-tongue.
1878. Halliwell, Clove-tongue, black hellebore.
