Forms: α. 6 spignale, 6–7 spignell, 7 spygnal, 6–7, 9 spignel. β. 6 speknel, specknell, spiknel, 6–7 spicknell, 6–9 spicknel, 9 spikenel. [Of obscure origin; perh. a later form of SPIGURNEL1.]
† 1. The aromatic root of the umbelliferous plant Meum athamanticum, used, when dried and ground, in medicine as a carminative or stimulant, or as a spice in cookery. Obs.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 188. Take cloues and gelofre,… gynger and spignale,… and temper hem with good wyne.
1577. Richmond Wills (Surtees), 269. In arseneck, xij d. Spicknell, turmirick, and galingall, ij s.
1592. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 212. One pound and a half specknell, 2s.
1610. Markham, Masterp., I. xl. 82. A penny worth of Galingal, two peniworth of spygnal of Spaine.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 169. Spignel … has an aromatick Pungency in its Scent, but also somewhat fetid.
2. The plant itself; meum; baldmoney.
α. 1579. Langham, Gard. Health, 390. Meu, Meon, or Spignel, boyle or soke the rools in water, and drinke it to open mightely the stoppings of the kidneys and bladder.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., II. iv. 90. Umbelliferous herbs whose Leaves are more Finely cut into narrow segments…: Spignel. Bishopsweed.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 43. Which has made some believe that Spignel was a species of Fennil or Dill.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spignel, Athamanta.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), V. 53. The athamanta meum, or spignel, which once rivalled the reputation of madder, seems to have a peculiar influence in stimulating the lower viscera.
1861. S. Thomson, Wild Fl. (ed. 4), III. 296. The root[s] … of the meam or spignel … have … been held in esteem.
β. 1548. Turner, Names Herbes, 53. Meum…. I neuer sawe thys herbe in Englande sauynge once at saynte Oswarldes whereas the inhabiters called it Speknel. Ibid. (1562), Herbal, II. (1568), 56. Ye Spiknel of England (which peraduenture was ones called Spiknard).
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 77. Meu or Spicknell is not found in Italy, vnlesse it be in some Physitians garden.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., Spicknel or Spignel.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1083/2. Spikenel, or Spicknel, Meum Athamanticum.
b. Applied, with distinguishing terms, to other plants allied to or resembling this, as bastard, mountain, parsley, wild spignel (see quots.).
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccccix. 895. It is called … in English Spignell, or Spicknell…. The second may be called bastard Baldmony, or bastard Spicknell.
1713. Phil. Trans., XXVIII. 190. Parsley Spignel.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spignel, Wild, Seseli.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), II. 294. Athamanta Libanotis,… Mountain Spignel or Stone Parsley.
