Obs. Forms: 4 colerage, 5 culra(t)che, -rayge, curiage, 6 curaige, -agie, (7 kill-ridge), 5–7 culrage, 6–7 culerage. [a. OF. culrage, mod.F. curage, f. cul ‘anus’ + rage rage, rabies, ‘from his operation and effect when it is used in those parts’ (Gerarde): cf. the Eng. name ARSESMART.] An obsolete name of the plant Water-pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper).
a. 1387. Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 33. Persicaria minor, colerage.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 1016. And curiage, and gladiol the longe.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 108. Culrache, smerthole, herbe [H., P. culratche], persiccaria.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 602/21. Persicaria, culrage.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, V. lxvii. 632. This herbe is called … in English, Water pepper … and of some Curagie.
1611. Cotgr., Curage, the hearbe Water-pepper, Arse-smart, Kill-ridge, or culerage.
