sainfoin

views updated May 21 2018

sainfoin herb Onobrychis viciaefolia; also lucerne, Medicago sativa. XVII. Early forms saintfoin, St. Foine — F. †saintfoin (mod. sainfoin) orig. lucerne — modL. sanctum fœnum ‘holy hay’, alt. of sānum fœnum ‘wholesome hay’, which was based on L. herba medica ‘healing plant’, itself erron. alt. of herba Mēdica, Gr. Mēdikè póa ‘Median grass’.