scabious
Pronunciation: /ˈskeɪbɪəs/
Definition of scabious
noun
- a plant of the teasel family, with pink, white, or (most commonly) blue pincushion-shaped flowers.
- Scabiosa, Knautia, and other genera, family Dipsacaceae: several species, including the devil’s bit scabious (see devil’s bit)
adjective
Origin:
late Middle English: based on Latin scabiosus 'rough, scabby'; the noun is from medieval Latin scabiosa (herba) 'rough, scabby (plant)', formerly regarded as a cure for skin disease (see scabies)