Herb. [f. BEAR sb.1]

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  1.  Popular name of various species of Hellebore, esp. of the Black Hellebore (H. fœtidus), a handsome plant with spreading panicles of globular flowers, their sepals green edged with pink.

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1551.  Turner, Herbal, 126. Thys herbe whyche they call chrystes wurtz and we berefoot.

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1629.  J. Parkinson, Parad. in Sole, lxxxi. 344. There are three sorts of blacke Hellebor or Beares foote.

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1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 185. The late Narcissus, and the winding Trail Of Bears-foot.

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1863.  Prior, Plant-n., 17. Bear’s-foot, from its digitate leaf.

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  2.  Also applied loosely to Bear’s-breech or Acanthus, to Lady’s Mantle, and to Monkshood.

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1552.  Huloet, Bere fote herbe, Acantha.

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1563.  Shute, Archit., B j b. An herbe called Acanthus, in frenche Branckursine, or bearefote with vs.

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