Bot. Obs. Also 6 squynant, 67 squinanth. [ad. med.L. squinantus, -anthus, ad. late Gr. σχοίνανθος. So obs. F. squinant, It. squinante, -anto.] = SCHŒNANTH.
α. 1548. Turner, Names Herbes (E.D.S.), 45. Juncus odoratus sive rotundus, is called in greeke Schenos, in englishe squinant, in duche Kamelhewe. Ibid. (1562), Herbal, II. (1568), 24. I neuer sawe squynant growinge, sauinge only dryed.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. xxix. 40. Camels haie is called in English Camels haie, and Squinant.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Squinant, the sweet rush, which is very medicinable: Camels meat.
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxxii. 275. There is neither Squinant, Ginger nor Grains in it.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Squinanthus, Squinant, a sweet-smelling Arabian Plant, otherwise calld the sweet Rush and Camels-Hay.
β. 1598. Florio, Squinance, squinanth, cammels meate, or sweet rush, which is very medicinable.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 101. The medicinable vertues of the sweet Rush called Squinanth . Squinanth is round, of an hote and fiery taste.
1616. Bullokar, Eng. Exp., Squinanth, a kinde of round rush, which is sweet, and hath flowers very medicinable.