Ferula

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ferula \Fer"u*la\, n. [L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were
     used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to
     strike; akin to OHG. berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. {Ferule}.]
     1. A ferule. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. [capitalized] A genus of plants of the parsley family
        {Apiaceae} (of the order {Umbelliferae}), including some
        yielding {asafetida}. Members include {Ferula asafoetida}
        ({Ferula foetida}), the giant fennel ({Ferula communis)},
        and {Ferula orientalis}.
        [PJC]