boneset
UK[ˈbəʊnset]US[ˈboʊnset]
n
A North American plant of the daisy family, with clusters of white flowers, formerly used in herbal medicine.
n
The dried leaves and flowering tops of this plant, used as an herbal remedy.
Morpheme Breakdown
bone
set
bone
bone, tusk
set
to set, put, place
Etymology
Boneset is a compound word formed from two native English elements, 'bone' and 'set'. It originated in early American folk medicine, where the plant (Eupatorium perfoliatum) was used to treat a severe form of influenza known as "breakbone fever" due to the intense muscle and bone pain it caused. The name is therefore a direct and literal description of the plant's purported medicinal function: to "set" or mend aching bones by reducing fever and pain. This nomenclature reflects the pragmatic, descriptive nature of many traditional herbal remedy names.
Analysis
Structure: bone + set
- bone: From Old English bān, meaning "bone, tusk". In this compound, it refers to the human or animal skeleton.
- set: From Old English sett, a derivative of settan meaning "to set, put, place". In this compound, it means "to mend" or "to fix".
Examples
Boneset was a common remedy in the herbalist's toolkit for treating fevers.
The forager identified the boneset by its distinctive perfoliate leaves and clusters of small white flowers.
Modern research is investigating the potential immune-supporting properties of boneset extracts.