Bot. Forms: (1 betonice), 4–6 betone, 5 betan, batany, 5–6 betany, betayne, betonye, 6 bittonie, byten, bytone, betain(e, 6–7 betonie, 7 bettony, 5– betony. [a. F. bétoine, ad. late L. *betonia for betonica, written by Pliny (N. H., XXV. 46) vettonica, and said by him to be a Gaulish name for a plant discovered by a Spanish tribe called Vettones. (Previously in OE. in the Latin form betonica.)]
1. prop. A plant (Stachys Betonica) of the Labiate order, having spiked purple flowers and ovate crenate leaves. In former days medicinal and magical virtues were attributed to it.
[c. 1000. Ags. Leechd., II. 58. Wyl ón ealað … betonican.]
a. 1275. in Wr.-Wülcker, Voc., 554. Bethonica, beteine.
c. 1375. ? Barbour, St. Baptista, 760. In þe prouince of þe sare (= tzar?) … Quhare mene makis drink of spycery—of betone þare is gret copy.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 34. Betayne, herbe [1499 batany or betony], betonica.
1483. Cath. Angl., 30. Betan, harba.
1519. Horman, Vulg., in Promp. Parv., 34. Nesynge is caused with byten (betonica) thrust in the nostril.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, lxxiii. (1636), 79. Betaine, though it grow wilde, yet it is set in many Gardens.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. iv. II. vi. (1676), 721. All which [herbs] … expel Devils … The Emperour Augustus … approves of Betony to this purpose.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 114. Wild-woad on each road we see; And medicinal betony.
b. Applied (with qualification) to other British plants supposed to resemble the preceding in some respect: St. Paul’s Betony, a small species of Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia); Water-Betony, a figwort (Scrophularia aquatica) having crenate leaves. In contradistinction to these, betony itself was called Head Betony.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, I. iv. 244. Take … Leaves of … Lungwort … Paul’s Betony, Self-heal.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 189. Head Betony (Betonica officinalis).
