Also 6 coltefote, 7 coltfoote. [Named from the shape of the leaves.
(The alleged reference to the colt of Matt. xxi. 7, etc., appears to be a modern conceit.)]
1. The common name of Tussilago Farfara (N.O. Compositæ), a common weed in waste or clayey ground, with large spreading cordate leaves downy beneath, and yellow flowers appearing in early spring before the leaves.
1552. Huloet, Coltefote herb, Bæchion Farfara, Tussilago.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 38. Coltes foote of some is called Bethicon.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. xii. 20. Called … Fole foote, Horse houe, Coltes foote, and Bull foote.
1624. Althorp MS., in Simpkinson, Washingtons, p. lv. Gathering broome budds and coltfoote.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 560. The Vapor of Coltsfoot hath a sanative vertue towards the Lungs.
1860. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. VI. x. § 14. The plant, which … grows first on earth that has been moved, is the coltsfoot.
b. The leaves used for smoking as a cure for asthma, etc. c. An infusion of the leaves.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Nice Valour, III. i. Our moderne Kick Which has been mightily in use of late Since our young men drank Coltsfoot.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 266, ¶ 3. Upon the Table lay a Pipe filled with Bettony and Colts-Foot.
2. Applied to other plants allied to the preceding, e.g., Fragrant, Sweet C., Nardosmia (Petasites) fragrans and palmata; or resembling it in leaf, etc., e.g., in North America, Asarum canadense; in W. Indies, Piper peltatum (Pothomorpha); Spotted Coltsfoot, Farfugium grande; † Water C., the yellow water-lily (Nuphar).
14[?]. MS. Bodl. 536, in Cockayne, Sax. Leechd., III. 319. Pees pully aquaticus, i. e. water coltys fot, it is [lyke] to water lyly & hit haþ a ȝolow floure.
1861. Delamer, Fl. Gard., 80. Coltsfoot (sweet-scented). Its flowers, with a powerful heliotrope-odour, appear in winter, before the leaves.
† 3. (See quot.). Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 510. Sprigs slipped from the stocke, liue and doe full well: but … they ought to be pulled away with a colts foot of their owne, so as they take a quicke parcell also of their mothers bodie with them, in manner of a fringe or border hanging thereto.
4. Comb. coltsfoot candy, -rock, candy or rock made with the leaves of the coltsfoot, used as a remedy for coughs and colds; so coltsfoot stick.
1861. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 78. A street-vendor of cough-drops, horehound candy, coltsfoot-sticks.
