mad-dog skullcap
- noun
- /ˈmædˌdɔg ˈskʌlkæp/
- Archaic
:
skullcap de perro rabioso
- In the 19th century, mad-dog skullcap was widely used to treat nervous disorders.
Examples
-
Researchers are studying the chemical compounds found in mad-dog skullcap for potential medicinal benefits.
-
The herbalist recommended mad-dog skullcap as a traditional remedy for anxiety.
-
The mad-dog skullcap is known for its calming effects.
-
Many herbalists recommend mad-dog skullcaps for anxiety relief.
-
In the 19th century, mad-dog skullcap was widely used to treat nervous disorders.
-
The herbalist recommended mad-dog skullcap as a traditional remedy for anxiety.
-
Researchers are studying the chemical compounds found in mad-dog skullcap for potential medicinal benefits.
Synonyms
A North American mint herb used to calm nerves and ease muscle spasms
A North American mint plant with blue flowers used to calm muscle spasms
An American mint plant that makes a sticky substance once used to ease muscle spasms
Surface Forms
Morphology
mad-dog + skullcap
The compound is formed by a modifier 'mad-dog' plus 'skullcap' (an herb), so a learner who knows both constituents will likely infer it denotes a type/variety of skullcap (i.e. a plant). However the precise botanical identity (Scutellaria lateriflora) and the historical medicinal sense for epilepsy and nervous disorders are not predictable from the parts alone, and the modifier's reference is somewhat arbitrary, making the relation only partially transparent.
Etymology
Mad-dog skullcap may come from an old belief that a kind of skullcap was used to help people bitten by a 'mad dog' or those with 'nervous' fits. The plant's small, cap-like flowers gave it the name skullcap, and because people used it for those problems the name stuck for a herb now used for 'seizures' and 'anxiety'.
