Now dial. [OE. þúðistel, = OHG. dúdistel, MHG. du-, dau-distel (Grimm). Etymology of first element obscure. Perh. the original name, subseq. changed to SOWTHISTLE: see E. Schröder, Götting. Gelehrte Nachr., 1908, p. 28.] A herb; the sowthistle, or perh. formerly the wild lettuce.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss. (O.E.T.), 601. Lactuca, þuþistel.
c. 725. Corpus Gl., 1175. Lactuca, þuðistel.
c. 1265. Voc. Names Plants, in Wr.-Wülcker, 559/5. Andiuia, i. letrun, i. þuȝeþistel.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 492/1. Thowthystylle, herbe (or sowthystylle).
1888. Shefield Gloss., Sowthistle … also called a thow-thistle, or thoo-thistle.
