a rosaceous downy perennial plant, Potentilla erecta, of Europe and W Asia, having serrated leaves, four-petalled yellow flowers, and an astringent root used in medicine, tanning, and dyeing
Also called: bloodroot
Word origin
C15: from Old French tormentille, from Medieval Latin tormentilla, from Latin tormentum agony; referring to its use in relieving pain; see torment
tormentil in American English
(ˈtɔrmɛnˌtɪl)
noun
a European cinquefoil (Potentilla tormentilla) with yellow flowers and rhizomes used in tanning and dyeing
Word origin
ME turmentill < ML tormentilla < L tormentum (see torment): from belief in the pain-killing power of the plant