Obs. Forms: 1 smeoru-, smerowyrt, 4 smerowo(r)t, 5 smerw(o)rt, smerewourt. [OE. smeoruwyrt (see SMEAR sb. and WORT sb.), = MDu. smere-, smeerworte (Du. smeerwortel), MHG. smerwurz (G. schmeerwurz, schmerwurz).] One or more plants of doubtful identity (see quots.).
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., U 98. Ueneria, smeorúwyrt.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 114. Ðeos wyrt þe man aristolochiam, & oðrum naman smerowyrt nemneð.
c. 1325. [see SMEAR sb. 6].
14[?]. Lat.-Eng. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 565. Aristologia, Smerwort. Ibid., 596. Mintuosa, Smerwort.
a. 1400–50. Stockholm Med. MS., fol. 203. Mercurie or papwourtz or þe more smerewourt: mercurialis.
c. 1450. Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 193. Unctuosa,… selhele uel smerwrt.
