Also 6– thorow-, 6 thorowe-, 7 through-, 6–7 waxe, 6– -wax. [f. THOROUGH prep. and adv. through + WAX v. to grow, after G. durchwachs; from the branches appearing to grow through the leaves.] A name for the umbelliferous herb Bupleurum rotundifolium, also called hare’s-ear, having roundish-oval perfoliate leaves, and small greenish-yellow flowers with conspicuous bracts.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes, 85. Perfoliata is an herbe wyth a leafe lyke a pease…. The Germans cal it Durchwassz. It maye be called in englishe Thorowwax, because the stalke waxeth thorowe the leaues.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. xcv. 137. This herbe is now called … in English Thorowwaxe and Thorowleafe.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. cxlviii. § 1. 429. Thorowe waxe or Thorowe leafe, hath a … stalke, diuided into manie small branches, which passe or go thorow the leaues.
1678. Phillips (ed. 4), Thorough-wax,… a Martial Herb, somewhat bitter and astringent and good against Ruptures.
1828. J. E. Smith, Eng. Flora, II. 93. B[upleurum] rotundifolium. Common Hare’s-ear. Thorow-wax.
