Hist. Also 6 lasser, 7 lazer. [a. L. lāser.] A gum-resin mentioned by Roman writers; obtained from an umbelliferous plant called lāserpīcium or silphium (σίλφιον).’
[c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 326. Stampe a quantite of laseris with wyne.]
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. cxii. 303. From out of the rootes and stalkes being scarified and cut floweth a certayne strong liquor,… called Laser.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 411. The hearbe being rubbed, smelleth like vnto Laser.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Benjuy, herbe laser.
b. Comb.: † laser-tree, the tree yielding laser; laser-wort, any plant of the genus Laserpitium, esp. L. latifolium.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 555. A Kind of Spongie Excrescence, which groweth chiefly upon the Roots of the *Laser-Tree.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccxci. (1633), 1007. Laserpitium called in English *Laserwort.
1658. J. R., trans. Mouffet’s Theat. Insects, 1057. Take Castoreum, Lazerwort, Pepper, of each four drams.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 316. Laserwort, Laserpitium.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 188. Great laserwort, and Wild Angelica.
1870. Treas. Bot., Laserwort, Laserpitium; also Thapsia Laserpitii.
