John Ward's Latin

This article features two glossaries of the Latin words and abbreviations in the diaries of John Ward, Folger MS V.a.284 -299. The words are all associated with medical receipts. At the bottom of the article are links to a cribsheet for John Ward's handwriting, several sites that depict alchemical symbols, and a Greek keyboard.

The first glossary was compiled by Dr. Robert Tallaksen, a reader and transcriber at the Folger Shakespeare Library. It is regularly updated with new words. Last update was June 6, 2023.

The second glossary is the work of Callum Simms, a transcriber on Shakespeare's World (a crowd-sourced project between the Folger Shakespeare Library, Zooniverse and the OED, sponsored by EMMO). Some of John Ward's diaries have been transcribed by volunteers on Shakespeare's World. On Shakespeare's World's talk feature, Callum Simms is known as @IntelVoid.

John Ward was the vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1662 to 1681. The Folger Shakespeare Library has 16 of his 17 diaries. More information on John Ward can be found in A Semi-Diplomatic Transcription of Selections from the John Ward Diaries.

Measurements

coch., cochlear -aris = a spoonful; abl. cochleare, by spoonful(s); NB distinguish from cochlearia, the scurvy-grass plant

cong., congius -i = gallon

cuspis -idis cultelli = point of a knife; as much medicine as will lie on a knife point; a small but uncertain amount, likely a few grains

gran., granum -i = grain (apothecary measure)

gt, gutt., gutta -ae = drop

NB the abbreviations for grain, "gr," and guttae (drops), "gt," can look similar; if unclear, if the ingredient is a liquid, e.g., a syrup, suggest using "gt;" if a dry substance, e.g., saffron, use "gr."

lb, sometimes lib, or crossed, "℔" = pound; liquid measures often in pounds instead of volume

no. or no. = numero, ablative of numerus -i, for the number of specified things; e.g., succus Limonum no. (numero) ii, juice of two lemons (of lemons in the number of two), with the item in the genitive

s. or ss., semis = one half (see note below)

semicoch., semicochl., semicochlear -aris = half a spoonful

lb or ℔ = pound (symbol unicode ℔); NB the unit of weight, not of money

M = handful

p = pugil, the amount that can be picked up with the thumb and two fingers; a pinch

The following symbols are in the EMROC toolbar in Dromio:

• ℥ = ounce (Unicode ℥); f℥ = fluid ounce, though the "f" is generally omitted
• ʒ = dram, drachm (symbol unicode ʒ)
• ℈ = scruple (symbol unicode ℈)

℔, the symbol for pound, is not in the EMROC toolbar (symbol unicode ℔)

Equivalents:

• 20 grains = 1 scruple;
• 3 scruples = 1 dram;
• 8 drams = 1 ounce

Numerical amounts are most often given in minuscule Roman numerals; e.g., iiii. The last "i" is very often written as a "long i" or "j," e.g., iiij, but should be transcribed as a minuscule: iiii

When "s" or "ss" is used for one half, it follows the last character, e.g., ℈s = 1/2 scruple, ℥iiis = 3 1/2 ounces, ʒiss = 1 1/2 drams; the "s" can look like a long "i" but will lack a dot

Ward occasionally used alchemical symbols; see the last section of this list

Descriptions, ingredients, instructions, and types of receipts

A

ā, āā, ān., ana = of each; e.g., folia senae et folia acetosae ana Mi, senna leaves and sorrel leaves, of each one handful

aaron -onis = the wild arum or cuckoo pint, Arum maculatum; many common names, e. g., Adam and Eve, friar's cowl, jack in the pulpit; see also faecula aaronis, below

abies -etis = genus of evergreen conifers, including the silver fir tree, Abies alba

abietinus -a -um = of, pertaining to, or resembling a fir tree

abrotan., abrotanum -i = artemisia or southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum

absynth., absynthium -i = wormwood, Artemisia absinthium; sal absynthii = salt of absinth, impure potassium carbonate (K2CO3) obtained from wormwood ashes; see also vinum absinthites, below

a. c., p. c., ante/post cibum = before or after a meal

acetos., acetosa -ae = sorrel or sour dock, Rumex acetosa; fol. acetos., folia acetosae, leaves of this plant

acet., acetum -i = vinegar; a. theriacale, treacle vinegar

acetum -i bezoardicum = bezoar vinegar; the "magistral" bezoar vinegar included sulfur, rue, garlic, cloves, saffron, and walnuts

acetum -i scilliticum = squill vinegar; vinegar infused with squills

acori., acorus -i = sweet flag plant, Acorus calamus

adamas or lapis -idis adamas = diamond; from α (not) + δάμαζω (conquer, break) because it cannot be broken

ad. grat. acid., ad gratem aciditatem = to an agreeable sourness

adeps adipis (or pl.) adipes = the soft fat or grease of an animal, with the name of the animal as an adjective or in the genitive; NB adeps is a common noun that can appear as a masculine or feminine; e.g., adeps suilla, pork fat, adeps anserinus, duck fat, adeps cuniculi, rabbit fat

adiant., adianth., adiantum -i = maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris; A. album, white maidenhair or wall-rue

adonis -is or -nidis = the plant pheasant's eye, Adonis annua; its red flowers are said to have grown on Adonis' grave

aerugo -inis aeris = see next entry

aes aeris = brass, copper; aes viride, verdigris; see also unguentum Egyptiacum, below

aetites -ae = eagle stone (Pliny), "a hollow nodule or pebble of hydrated iron oxide containing a loose kernel that makes a noise when rattled" (OED); said to be helpful in avoiding miscarriage, in pregnancy generally, and in childbirth

agalloc(h)um = see lignum aloes, below

agaric., agaricus -i = originally the bracket fungus, Formitopsis officinalis, later any mushroom with a cap, various species including Agaricus cantharellus, the chanterelle

agaricus -i Rudii = an unknown mushroom or fungus used by or otherwise associated with Eustachio Rudio (1551 - 1611), Italian physician, Latinized as Eustachius Rudius

ageratum -i = sweet maudlin, sweet yarrow, or English mace, Achillea ageratum; flowering plant in the sunflower family

agni cast., agni casti = Vitex agnus-castus; chaste tree, chasteberry, Abraham's balm, etc.; may also appear as viticosum rubrum, see vitex, below

agrimon., agrimonia -ae = a genus of perennial herbaceous plants, especially common agrimony, Agrimonia eupatoria

agrimonia -ae odorata = fragrant agrimony, also known as A. procera

albedinem = accusative of albedo -inis, whiteness; occurs in the phrase ad albedinem calcinati, calcined to whiteness, in this case hart's horn

alb., albus -a -um = white

alb. graec., album graecum = the dry white excrement of a dog, hyena, or other bone-eating carnivore, especially when used as an ingredient in medicinal preparations (OED)

alcanna -ae = alkanet, Alkanna tinctoria, an herb in the borage family; the root yields a red dye; used for infections

alchermes, alkermes (confectio -onis) = confection of kermes (pregnant female of the crimson insect Coccus ilicis), formerly supposed to be a berry; widely used as dye-stuff and in medicine

alchymilla -ae = genus of herbaceous perennials in the rose family, especially lady's mantle, Alchemilla mollis; the species used for the herbal tea used in gynecology was A. xanthochlora or A. vulgaris

aleophanginae = see pilulae aleophanginae, below

alexitericus -a -um = alexipharmic, a "medicine or treatment believed to protect against, counteract the effects of, or expel from the body a noxious or toxic substance... an antidote" (OED)

alexiterium -i = an alexipharmic medicine, antidote; alexiterium D. Stephani, Stephanus's antidote, possibly from Stephanus Atheniensis (c. 550 - 630), Greek physician and commentator on Galen

alezeteris = likely a misspelling for "alexiteris," see above entry

alhandal = Arabic name for colocynth (q. v.); troches of alhandal also contained bdellium & gum tragacanth

alipta -ae = see alyptae moschata, below

alkakeng., alkekengi = winter cherry, Physalis alkekengi, a diuretic

alleluia = same as lujula, see below

allium -i = garlic, Allium sativum

alnus -i = alder, a tree of genus Alnus; cort. alni nigri = black alder bark, from A. glutinosa

aloe -es = aloe; especially the true aloe, Aloe vera; more than 500 species; distinguish from lignum aloes, q.v.

aloe -es depurata = extract made by boiling aloe with water and then concentrating the liquid; if the water was replaced with juice of violet flowers, "aloe violata;" if with juice of rose leaves, "aloe rosata"

aloe -es hepatica = hepatic, Bombay, or Barbados aloes; used as a cathartic

aloe -es lota = washed aloe; apparently dissolved in the juice of roses and then dried

alsine = bog stichwort, Stellaria alsine

alth., althe., althea/althaea -ae = mallow or marsh-mallow, Althea officinalis; also called malvaviscus

altile = possibly ablative form of the adjective altilis -is -e, fattened, rich, abundant, nourishing; JW states (V.a.291, 48r), "Altile est uinum dulce coctum, nam Altil apud Arabes dulce sonat," Altile is boiled sweet wine, for Altil among the Arabs sounds sweet

alviducum -i = "opener of the belly;" i.e., a laxative

alumin., alumina -ae, alumen -inis = alum; argil or argillaceous earth

alum., alumen -inis = alum; aluminum hydroxide, AlOH3, used as an antacid, or hydrated aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3•nH2O), where n is the number of water molecules (papermaker's alum)

alum. rup. = alumen -inis rupes, alum (see above entry) in crude or unrefined rock form, i. e., roch(e) alum; may also be designated alumen ruparum, alum of the rocks

alypta -ae moschata = a compounded lozenge containing ladanum (q. v.), styrax calamita, red sytrax, aloe, ambra, camphor, nutmeg, and rosewater; for asthma and chest constriction

amaracus -i = dittany of Crete, Dictamnus (Origanum) creticus

ambra -ae = amber, or a balsam from Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), or ambergris

ambra -ae grisea = ambergris

amethystus -i = amethyst; the semi-precious stone, "to which the ancients attributed the property of preventing drunkenness" (Dunglison's Medical Lexicon)

sem. ammeos = semina ameos, the seeds of the ammi plant, see next entry; Gerard states that they are good "drunken in wine against the biting of all manner of venomous beasts," as well as against all manner of poisons, pestilent fevers, and the plague

ammi -ii = an umbelliferous plant, Ammi vulgare (maius), common bishop's weed or herb-william; also A. creticum, candy bishop's-weed, or A. perpusillum, small bishop's-weed

ammoniac., ammoniacum -i = gum ammoniac, gum resin of Dorema ammoniacum

amomi., amomum -i = genus of aromatic plants including black cardamom, Amomum sublatum; JW mentions A. virginiatum and states that it is "very like if not the same with Cornus"

amylum -i = white starch

anagallis -idis = common or "scarlet" pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis

anas -atis = duck, various birds of family Anatidae, genus Anas; genitive plural anatum, as in iecur anatum, liver of ducks

aneth., anethum -i = dill, Anethum graveolens

anglicus -a -um, anglicanus -a -um = used when an ingredient is specified to be of English origin; e. g., croci anglicani, (of) English saffron

anis., anisum -i = anise, Pimpinella anisum; semina anisi, aniseed

anodin., anodyn., anodynos -us = a pain reliever, anodyne

anserin., anserinus -a -um = of, relating to, or obtained from a goose; adipes anserinus, goose fat

ante caenam, pastum, prandium = before supper, before food (unspecified), before lunch

antepileptic., antepilepticus -a -um = anti-epileptic; e.g., aqua antepileptica

anthora -ae = anthora, yellow monkshood, or healing wolfsbane, Aconitum anthora

anthos = rosemary flowers; anthosatus -a -um, infused with rosemary flowers; e.g., mel (honey) anthosatum

antidotum -i or antidotus -i = an antidote or counterpoison

antidotum -i haemagogum = the adjective "haemagogum" indicates that it is a material which promotes menstrual or hemorrhoidal discharge of blood; numerous ingredients including lupins, pepper, licorice, long birthwort, etc.; Culpeper says that it "provokes the Terms, brings away both birth and afterbirth"

antidotus -i Matthioli = Matthiolus' Great Antidote, some recipes call for more than 300 ingredients; in the Pharmacopoiea Londinensis, William Salmon (1644 - 1713) terms it "one of the greatest Galli-maufries that ever I saw"

aparine -ines = cleavers, clivers, catchweed, sticky willy, or velcro plant, Galium aparine

apium -i = smallage or any of several kinds of celery or parsley, especially wild celery, Apium graveolens dulce; apium caulis, the stock or stem of one of these plants; A. risus, laughing parsley, because it produces a contraction of the mouth resembling laughter

Apocynum cannabinum = a perennial herbaceous plant, known as dogbane, hemp dogbane, Indian hemp, etc.; used in herbal medicine for fever and to slow the pulse; the seeds when powdered are a source of food

apozema -atis = an infusion or decoction; or concentration by boiling

applic., applico -are = apply; e.g., applica ventre, apply to the abdomen

aqua -ae aluminosa = a solution of alum in water; see alumen, above

aq., aqua -ae = water; if an infusion, distillation, or decoction, with the name of the source in the genitive, e.g., aqua hordei, barley water

aq. calc., aqua -ae calcis = lime water (whitewash)

aqua -ae caponis = capon water; made by boiling a capon with raisins, pine nuts, licorice, and herbs, mixed with wine and other herbs, and distilled; a pectoral

aqua -ae chrysulca = see aqua regia, below

aqua fontis, aqua fontana = spring or well water

aq. fort., aqua -ae fortis = nitric acid, HNO3; may also be called "spirit of niter"

aq. histeric., aqu -ae histerica = anti-hysteric water; receipts vary

aq., aqua -ae hordei = barley water

aqua -ae imperialis = a drink made from water mixed with cream of tartar and lemon, and sweetened to taste

aq. naphae, aqua -ae naphae = orange flower water

aqua -ae protheriacalis = "a water serving in stead of treacle water," V.a.288, 103r

aqua regia = a mixture of nitric (HNO3) and hydrocholoric (HCl) acids which can dissolve gold and platinum

aq. vit., aqua vitae = distilled spirit

aquilegia -ae = genus of perennial plants, including various species of columbine

arc(h)onticon = see pulvis arconticon, below

argentina -ae = genus of plants in the rose family, especially silverweed, Argentina anserina

argentum -i = the element silver (Ag); argentum vivum ("alive") = mercury (Hg), see hydrargyrus, below

argill., argilla -ae = argil, argillaceous earth, alumina

arillus -i = seed/stone; uva passa detractis arillis, dried grapes with the seeds removed

aristoloch., aristolochia -ae = many species, including birthwort, Aristolochia clematitis; JW also mentions A. rotunda, smearwort or round-leaved birthwort; see also serpentaria, below

aromat. rosat., aromaticum rosatum = aromatic medicine containing roses

artemis., artemisia -ae = mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris; also other species including southernwood, wormwood, tarragon

artanit., artanita -ae = probably sow-bread, Cyclamen purpurascens

arum -i = common arum or aron, Arum maculatum; also known as wake-robin, cuckoo-pint; a stimulant

arundo -inis = genus of grasses; Arundo donax, giant cane; A. plinii, Pliny's reed; A. vallatoria, bankside reed; A. saccharina, sugar cane, now genus Saccharum

asa dulcis = benzoe siamensis, a resin gum from Styrax tonkinensis, used for skin irritation; possibly also used as a purgative , diuretic, or antispasmodic, and identical to benzoin

asar., asarum -i = asarabacca or hazelwort, Asarum europaeum; also known as nardus celticus

asclepiadis = genitive of genus Asclepias; various species, including milkweed.; mentioned as radix asclepiadis, the root of such a plant

asell., asellus -i = wood louse, Oniscus asellus; pulv. (onisc.) asell., powder of wood lice

aspalathus -i = genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae (beans), numerous species

asparag., asparagus -i = asparagus, Asparagus officinalis; the root was used as a diuretic

asperula -ae odorata = sweet woodruff; also called Gallium odoratum; JW mentions A. quinta Gerardi, small red-flowered woodruff

asphodel., asphodelus -i = genus of flowering plants mythologically connected with the underworld and said to cover the Elysian fields; the white asphodel, A. albus, is also known as King's spear ; the roots were compounded into a cataplasm and applied to scrofulous ulcers

ass. foetid., assafoetida -ae = asafoetida, dried gum of root of Ferula foetida or F. assa-foetida

assaireth = in pilulae Assaireth (Avicenna); pills containing hiera picra, mastich, myrobalans, etc.; a cholagogue

athanasia -ae = genus of flowering plants in the daisy family; in ancient times a kind of antidote; "athanasia magna" was thought to be useful in dysentery and hemorrhages

atriplex -icis (olida) = orache or arrach, an emmenogogue and used for disorders of the uterus generally; Culpeper defines A. olida as "stinking arrach"

aurum -i = gold; appears passim as "fol. auri," gold leaf, used (e. g.) for gilding pills; though possibly leaves of Aurus brasiliensis, also known as Calamus aromaticus asiaticus, Asian sweet-scented flag; see also pillulae aurae below

auriculus -i muris = mouse-ear or mouse-ear hawkweed, Pilosella officinarum

aurant., aurantior., aurantium -i = orange, Citrus aurantium; cortex aurantiorum, orange peel

aurant. chinens., aurantium -i chinense = Chinese (sweet) orange, Citrus sinensis

auripigment., auripigmentum -i = auripigment, arsenic trisulfide (As2S3), used by painters under the name of King's Yellow (OED); also appears as arsenicum auripigmentum

aurum -i fulminans or volatile = fulminating (explosive) gold, a mixture of compounds of gold, ammonia, and chlorine; seems primarily to have been seen as a curiosity; Glauber used fumes produced by its detonation to gold-plate objects

aurum -i potabile = potable gold; an alchemical preparation of uncertain components (in addition to gold), a cordial with many purported virtues

authepsa = from αὐθέψης, a "self-boiler" or "self-cooker;" a vessel used for heating water and keeping it hot, likely a metal pot with a central tube filled with coals, similar to a modern samovar

avellan., avellanus -a -um = relating to hazel-nut or filbert; nux avellana, hazel-nut; from the name of the town Avellana in Campania, known for its fruit and nut trees

aven., auenaceae, avena -ae = oats, Avena sativa; wild oats, A. fatua

avenac., avenaceus -a -um = of or relating to oats; oaten

axung., axungia -ae = lard or fat of an animal with the name of the animal as an adjective; e.g., axungia porcina, hog lard

B

bacc., bacca -ae = berry (any)

bacill., bacillus -i = a small stick; e.g., bacill. glycirriz., a stick of licorice

bacon., baco -onis = bacon

balaust., balaustium -i = pomegranate flower

ballota -ae = black or stinking horehound, Ballota nigra

balneum -i = bath; BV, balneum vaporosum, steam bath; BM, balneum mariae, bain-marie

balsam., balsamum -i = balsam, balm, any strongly scented resin, many types; can be solid or liquid; e.g., balsam of Tolu, of Gilead (from tree Balsamodendron gileadense or B. opobalsamum)

balsamum -i copaiva = balsam of copaiba; an oleoresin from the trunk of any of several species of South American trees of genus Copaifera, also known as copaifera officinalis; used for urinary diseases including gonorrhea

balsamum -i Lucatelli = Lucatellus' balsam; olive oil, Venice turpentine, yellow wax, and powdered dragon's blood (see sanguis draconis, below)

barba -ae iovis = Jupiter's beard, Anthyllis barba-iovis; also known as silverbush

bardana -ae = burdock; see lappa, below

basilic. = see ung., vng. basilic. below

bechicus -a -um, bechinus -a -um = for treatment of a cough

bechion bechii = coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara

bdell., bdellium -i = gum resin from shrubs of Balsamodendron species, used as pectoral (for diseases of the chest) and emmenagogue

becabung., beccabunga -ae = water pimpernel, brooklime; Veronica beccabunga

behen = uncertain identification because early herbalists used the name from Arabic sources, not knowing what plant it referred to; in England the name chiefly affixed to two types: white (bladder campion, Silene inflata) and red (sea lavender, Statice limonium)

bellis -is = the common or English daisy, Bellis perennis; also known as woundwort or bruisewort

bened. laxat., benedicta laxativa or benedictum laxativum = another name for rhubarb, or the laxative electuary made from it; or a compound of turbith, scammony and spurge

benedict. = carduus benedictus, q. v.

benzoes = benzoe siamensis; see asa dulcis, above

benz., benzoin., belzuinum -i = benzoin, gum benzoin; gum obtained from Styrax benzoin

berber., berberis -is = barberry tree, Berberis vulgaris, or the berry itself

beta -ae = beetroot, Beta vulgaris; also appears as "rad. (radix) betae"

beton., betonic., betonica -ae = betony, Stachys betonica

betonica -ae Pauli = St. Paul's betony, Veronica serpyllifolia, a small species of speedwell

bezoar (indecl.); bezoart., lapis bezoarticum -i = a stone or concretion found in animal intestines; eight types are described (including mineral, biliary, resinous, fibrous) and these may be described with an adjective, e.g., bezoart. minerale, animale; a particular type comes from the pazan (pasang), the wild or bezoar goat, Capra aegagrus

bezoardicum -i ioviale = the Jovial bezoar or bezoar of Jupiter, a diaphoretic; butter of antimony (q.v.) and nitric acid, distilled; unrelated to "bezoar," above

bezoard., bezoardic., bezoardicus -a -um = relating to or in description of a bezoar

bezoarticum -i Mathioli = the bezoar of Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501 - 77), Italian physican and naturalist, Latinized as Matthiolus; precise description of this bezoar unknown

bezoarticum -i solare = the "solar" or "golden" bezoar; leaf gold, nitric acid or aqua regia, and butter of antimony (q.v.); a diaphoretic and treatment for syphilis; not related to "bezoar," above

bib., bibo -ere = drink; bibit (she/he drinks), bibat (let her/him drink) or bibatur (let X be drunk )

bismalv., bismalva -ae = althea, marshmallow, see above; or related species Malva bismalva or M. moschata, musk-mallow

bocheti, bochetum -i = a liquid thus produced: after a decoction of woods, roots, and/or barks, fresh water is added to the same ingredients to make a second decoction for ordinary drinking

bol. armen., bolus -i Armeniae = Armenian bole, bole armoniac; an argillaceous earth

bombac., bombax -acem = cotton, cotton-wool, stuffing

borac., borax (-acis) = borax (sodium borate, disodium tetraborate), Sodae biboras

botryos = Jerusalem oak, Dysphania botrys; also known as sticky goosefoot or feathered geranium

brachiale -is = a bracelet or armlet; see pericarpium, below

brassica -ae = genus of numerous cruciferous plants, incl. cabbage, turnip, rape, etc.

bryon., bryonia -ae = briony, Bryonia dioica, may also be denoted red or white; black bryony = lady's seal

bubula -ae = beef; bubulus -a -um, derived from beef; medulla bubula, beef marrow

bugloss., buglossa -ae = bugloss (various species of Anchusa, Echium, and others)

bugul., bugula -ae = numerous herbaceous plants including common bugle, Ajuga reptans

bullio -ire = boil; bulliant, they should boil or let them boil, bulliantur, let them be boiled, bulliuntur, they are boiled

bupthalmi., bupthalmum -i = common ox-eye, Bupthalmum salicifolium; also "bupthalmus"

butyr., butyron -i = butter; butryr. rancid., rancid butter; butyr. recens, recent. = fresh butter

butyrum -i antimonii = "butter of antimony," antimony trichloride, SbCl3, thus called because it resembles a fatty mass

buxus -i = common or European box, Buxus sempervivens, an evergreen shrub or small tree

C

calamint, calaminth., calamintha -ae = calamint; various species of Calamintha, e.g. officinalis, sylvatica, nepeta, montana

calcino -are = to calcine; reduce by roasting or burning to a powder or friable substance; una calcinentur, let them be calcined together

calc. viv., calx calcis = lime, limestone, chalk; calx vivum, unslaked lime; see also unguentum de calce, below

calendul., calendula -ae = garden or common marigold, Calendula officinalis

caltha -ae = genus of perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family, with star-shaped flowers

campan., campanula -ae = throat-wort, bell-flower; Campanula trachelium

camphir., camphor., camphora -ae = camphor, from Laurus camphora or Dryobalanops camphora

camphoratus -a -um = camphorated, treated or impregnated with camphor

canabini = see Apocynum cannabinum, above

cancror., cancer -eris = crab; cancrorum vivorum, (of) live crabs; see also "oculi cancri," below

candi = candy; essentially always appears in association with sucrum or sacch., saccharum; etymology from Anglo-Norman sucre chandi, Middle French sucre candi and post-classical Latin sucrum candy, with earlier roots in Occitan, Catalan, Spanish, and Italian

canell., canella -ae = canella tree; Canella alba, wild cinnamon

cantharid., cantharis -idis = blistering fly or Spanish fly, Musca hispanica; decoction of the insects used externally and internally as powder or tincture; can be poisonous in overdose

caphura -ae = camphor

capill. vener., capillus veneris = maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris

cap., capio -ere = cape, take; also capiat (let him/her take X) and capiatur (let X be taken)

cappar., capparis -is = caper, Capparis spinosa; ol., oleum capparibus, oil of capers

capra -ae = she-goat; pinguedo caprae, she-goat fat

caprifolium -a = Italianate woodbine or perfoliate honeysuckle, Lonicera caprifolium

caput capitis cati = a cat's head; typically, it seems, a black cat's head burned to ashes

caput -itis mortuum = material left over after such chemical processes as distillation or sublmation; Dr. Willis says that it is "good for nothing but to be flung away, all vertue being extracted" (Dr. Willis's Practice of Physick Being the whole Works of that Renowned and Famous Physician...; Dring, Harper, and Leigh, London, 1684)

carabe, carabes = likely a name for white amber (V.a. 298, f. 161r, receipt in Latin, "Carab. pulueriz.," followed by receipt in English, "the white amber powderd")

caranna = an aromatic resin from the West Indian flowering tree Bursera acuminata and/or the South American trees Protium carana, P. altissimum, and Pachylobus hexandrus

cardamantice = see iberis cardamantice, below

cardiac., cardiacus -a -um = cordial, for stimulating, invigorating, or restoring the heart; aqua cardiaca, cordial water

cardam., cardamomum -i = cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum

carduncellus -i = uncertain; either Carduncellus, a genus of flowering plants in the aster family; or Carthamus carduncellus, one of the distaff thistles, the best known of which is the safflower, C. tinctorius

card., carduus -i = thistle (various species)

card. ben., card. bened., card. benedict., carduus -i benedictus = holy or blessed thistle, Cnicus benedictus, widely used as an antidote

carduus -i Mariae = Marian, milk, or St. Mary's thistle, Silybum marianum

carellorum = plural genitive of the diminutive of carus -i, "little seed;" refers to the seed of hypericon, St. John's wort

caric., carica -ae = fig, Ficus carica; may be described as ficus pinguis, a fat or ripe fig

carlin., carlina -ae = carline or silver thistle, Carlina vulgaris

carminativus -a -um = serving to expel flatulence, as in "emplastrum carminativum"

caro carnis = meat, flesh (any kind), with the source as an adjective or in the genitive; e.g., haedina, kid; vitulina, veal; perdicum, of partridges

carthami., carthamus = saffron flower, Carthamus tinctorius

carui., carvi., carum -i = caraway, Carum carui

caryocost., caryostinum -i = caryocostinum, an electuary so called because it contains cloves and costus, Saussurea costus, also known as costus, kuth, and putchuk, a species of Indian thistle

caryophill., caryophillus -i = clove, Caryophyllus aromaticus

caseum -i = cheese (any kind)

cass., cassia -ae = cassia (various species; e.g, Cassia fistula, purging cassia)

cass. lign., cassia -ae lignum = cassia wood

castanea -ae = chestnut or chestnut-tree, Castana vesca

castoreum -i = castoreum; beaver musk

cataplasm., cataplasma -is = poultice or plaster

catapsoras = see unguentum catapsoras, below

cataputia = the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, also called palma Christi from the palmate shape of its leaves

catholicon, catholicum -i = a universal purging electuary; see diacatholicon, below

C.C. = cornu cervi (deer or hart's horn), a source of ammonia; not the plant (Plantago coronopus)

cattaria -ae = catnip, Nepeta cataria

cauda -ae equina = horsetail or mare's tail; various species of ancient genus Equisetum, e.g., E. arvense, common horsetail or the aquatic flowering plant Hippuris vulgaris; NB distinguish from cauda equina, the bundle of spinal nerves in the lower lumbar region

caulis -is = cabbage, or its stalk or stem; see also apium caulis, above

centaury = English name applied to two different plants, as follows:

• centaurea -ae = genus in the familiy Asteraceae, including cornflowers, knapweends, and star thistles; JW mentions Centaurea media, C. spicata, and C. minima, the last also known as herba impia
• centaur., centaurium -i = genus of flowering plants of about 50 species, in the gentian family Gentianaceae; Centaurium magnum, great centaury or centory; C. erythraea, common centaury, also known as feverfew

centinodii, centinodium -i = common knotgrass, birdweed, pigweed, or lowgrass, Polygonum aviculare; post-classical Latin "centinodia," Anglo-Norman "centinodie"

cepa -ae = onion, Allium capa

cera -ae = wax; cera alba or citrina = beeswax

ceras. nigr., cerasum -i nigrum = black cherry, Cerasum nigrum; aq. cerasorum nigrorum, black cherry water; gummi cerasi, (black) cherry tree gum

cerat., ceratio -onis = covering or smearing over of a portion of the body with wax

ceratum -i = cerate, an unctuous material for external application, made of wax mixed with oil, lard, or similar, and other medicinal substances; consistency between ointment and plaster

ceratum -i santalinum = cerate containing two or more of the santals or saunders

ceratum -i stomachicum = a cerate for the abdomen made from roses, mastich, wormwood, spikenard, wax, and oil of roses (Mesue)

ceratum -i oesypatum = cerate containing oesypus (unrefined lanolin), oil of chamomel and iris root, yellow wax and rosin (Galen)

cerebrum -i = brain; e.g., cerebrum leporis (rabbit brain) for hair loss, cerebrum. passeris (sparrow) for "seed increasing"

cerefolium -i = chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium

cerevis., cerevisia -ae, cervis., cervisia -ae = beer or ale; cervisia tenuis, thin (i.e., weak or inferior), or small beer

ceroma -ae = in CL, a mixture of oil, wax, and earth with which wrestlers rubbed themselves; apparently now synonymous with ceroneum, see next entry

ceroneum -i = emplastrum ceroneum; containing pitch, yellow wax, sagapenum, ammoniacum, turpentine, etc.; an emollient

ceronia -ae = St. John's bread; fruit of the carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua

ceruss., cerussa -ae = ceruse or white lead; a mixture of lead carbonate and hydrate

cervin., cervinus -a -um = of or pertaining to a deer or stag

ceterach. = spleenwort or rustyback fern, Asplenium ceterach

chalcitis -idis = copper pyrite, chalcopyrite, CuFeS2; also synonym for colcothar, see below

chalyb., chalybs chalybis = steel

chamaelea = Microstachys chamaelea,"creeping sebastiana"

chamamel., chamaemel., chamaemelum -i = chamomile, Anthemis nobilis

chameleon -ontis = genus of thistles in the Asteraceae family (daisies, sunflowers); C. niger, the black chamaeleon thistle; C. albus, white chameleon or little chardon

chamaepit., chamaepitys, chaemeptytys -yos = common ground pine, Teucrium chamaepitys

chamedr., chaemedr., chamaedrys = germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys, or wall germander, Teucrium chamaedrys

chartula -ae = a small piece of paper; specifically, such a piece of paper twisted or folded, containing a single dose of medicinal powder

chebula -ae = JW describes it as a type of myrobalan (q. v.) though it is a different genus

chel. 69., chelae -arum cancri = crab's claws; for explanation of "69," see oculi cancri, below

chelidon., chelidonium -i = common or greater celandine, Chelidonium magnus

cheraefolium -i = chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium

chia, chio., terebinth. chia = turpentine from the tree Pistacia terebinthus, also called Cyprus, Chio, or Chian turpentine

chin., china -ae = china root, Smilax china, similar to sarsaparilla

cholagog., cholagogum -i = cholagogue, a medication that promotes discharge of bile

chrysocolla -ae = borax, q.v.

cicer -i = chickpea, Cicer aristinum; several varieties, including white (album), red (rubrum), and black (nigrum)

cicerbita -ae = genus of flowering plants including C. alpina, alpine sow-thistle

cich., cichor., cichorium -i = wild chicory or succory, Cichorium intybus; C. endivia, endive

cicuta -ae = various species of hemlock; e.g., water hemlock, Cicuta virosa or palustris; common greater hemlock, C. vulgaris major

cinamomi., cinnamomum -i = true cinnamon, bark of Cinnamonum zeylanicum; wild cinnamon, Canella alba

cinabrii., cinabrium -i = cinnabar or vermilion; mercuric sulfide, HgS

ciner., cinis -eris = ashes (of anything); e.g., coquantur per 3 horas super cineres calidos, let them be cooked for three hours upon hot ashes; coque sub cineribus, cook under ashes

cistus -i = genus of flowering plants in the rock rose family with about 20 species; JW mentions (V.a.291, 67r) C. anglicanus, not a currently recognized species; resin-bearing species, e.g., C. ladanifer, are a source for labdanum (q.v.)

citrin., citrinula -ae = a small citron or lemon

citrium -i = the citron tree, genus Citrium; species include C. vulgare, C. dulci medulla, and C. magno fructu

citrullus - i = a genus of desert vines, including C. lanatus, watermelon, and colocynth

clarific., clarifico -are = clarify

claviculata -ae = probably Ceratocapnos claviculata, the climbing corydalis

clematis -idis daphnoides = periwinkle, Vinca minor

clyster -eris = enema

cnidium = spurge flax or mezereum, Daphne cnidium

coccinel., cocinella -ae = cochineal; the red dye from the insect Coccus cacti, or the insect itself

cochlear -aris = a spoon or spoonful

cochlear., cochlearia -ae = genus of approximatey 30 species in the Brassicaceae family; includes common scurvy-grass, Cochlearia officinalis, also C. anglica and C. danica; sal cochleariae, salt of scurvy-grass; NB distinguish from coch., cochlear -is, see above entry

coculus -i indi = India berries; from the tree Anamirta cocculus; source of picrotoxin

colatus -a -um (also incolatus) = strained, filtered, purified (from colo -are = strain, filter); colatura -ae, a substance which will be strained; adjective is colaturus -a -um

colcothar = iron peroxide, jeweller's rouge, from ML calcatar; also called crocus martis

collutio -onis = a rinse, generally an eye-wash or mouthwash

colocynth., colocynthis -idis = bitter-apple (a purgative), Citrullus colocynthis

colophon., colophonia -ae = resin obtained by distillation of turpentine with water

columba -ae = dove, pigeon; a bird of the Columbidae family, containing 50 genera and over 300 species

colutea -ae = a genus of about 25 species of flowering shrubs, Parkinson states that it is used as an emetic and as a purge; common name, bastard senna; C. arborescens, bladder senna; JW mentions C. vesicaria, apparently the same as C, arborescens, but adds maior and minor

combustus- a -um (comburo -ere) = burnt up, reduced to ashes

commun., communis -e = common; also expressed as vulgaris -e

compos., compositus -a -um = adj., compound; composed, prepared

concha -ae = mussel, pearl-oyster

cond., conditus -a -um = preserved; e.g., nuces juglandis conditae, preserved walnuts; if the word appears with sacch., saccharum, likely "candi" (q.v.)

contund., contunde = beat, break up, pound to pieces, from contundo -ere; contundantur in mortario, break up in a mortar

conf., confect., confectio -onis = compound of vegetable, fruit, etc., with sugar; same as conserva

confectio -onis Hamech = named after an Arabian physician; contains myrobalan, violets, rhubarb, absinthe, etc., made up with honey

confectio -onis Humain = to preserve sight; containing eyebright, fennel seeds, cinnamon, etc.

confectio -onis hyacinthi = not from the flower, but an astringent containing many ingredients including zircon (called hyacinth from its color), red coral, bole armoniac, myrrh, alkermes, etc.

confectio -onis liberans = name derives from its property of delivering the patient from the plague; as many as thirty ingredients including Armenian bole, terra sigillata, pearls, coral, &c.

cons., conserv., conserva -ae = compound of vegetable, fruit, etc., with sugar; same as confectio

consolid., rad. consolid., radix -icis consolidae = larkspur (root), Delphinium consolida

consolida -ae saracenica = goldenrod, Virga aurea or Solidago virga-aurea, same as solidago saracenica, below; a vulnerary

contrayerv., contrayerva -ae = contrayerva; the root stock and rhizome of Dorstenia contrayerva, D. brazilensis, or D. virginiana (= Aristolochia serpentaria); used as an antidote to snakebite

contund., contundo -ere = bruise, crush, beat; contundantur in mortario, let them be crushed in a mortar

coq., coqu., coque, coquo -ere = boil; coquuntur, they are boiled; coquantur, let them be boiled

contus., contusus -a -um = adj., bruised, crushed, beaten

convall., convallaria -ae = lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis; or Solomon's seal, C. polygonatum or Polygonatum solomonis

copaiva = see balsamum copaiva, above

cor., corium -i = leather

coral., corallium -i = general name for coral; most commonly red (rubr.), but also black (nigr.) and white (alb.)

corallina -ae = coralline or corallin, a genus of seaweeds having a calcareous jointed stem, especially Corallina officinalis; a vermifuge, e.g., treatment for "maw worm," V.a.291, 81r

coran. = currants, the black, red, or white fruit of a shrub in the genus Ribes, containing about 200 species, also including gooseberries; most often refers to Corinthian raisins, see uvae Corinthiacae, below

cord., cordial -is = cordial; see also flores cordiales, below

coriand., coriandrum -i = coriander, Coriandrum sativum

cornus -us = the cornel cherry tree, Cornus mascula

coronopus -i = either Lepidium coronopus, swinecress or wartcress; or Plantago coronopus, buckshorn plaintain

cort., cortic., cortex -icis = bark of any tree; occasionally described as cortex medius or cortex interior, middle or inner bark, especially of the ash tree, Fraxinus excelsior

cortex -icis peruvianus = Peruvian bark, from the tree Cinchona officinalis, the source of quinine, and a treatment for malaria; also known as cortex Iesuiticus or Jesuit's bark; see also pulvis Iesuiticus, below

cort. winteran. = cortex -icis Winterani, Drimys winteri, antiscorbutic; named after a Captain Winter (or Wynter), who accompanied Sir Francis Drake in part of his voyage of 1577 - 80; Winter discovered the tree after rounding Cape Horn and before turning back

costus -i = an essential oil extracted from the root of a species