any plant of the genus Scabiosa, esp S. atropurpurea, of the Mediterranean region, having blue, red, or whitish dome-shaped flower heads: family Dipsacaceae
2.
any of various similar plants of the related genus Knautia
3. devil's bit scabious
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin scabiōsa herba the scabies plant, referring to its use in treating scabies
scabious in American English1
(ˈskeɪbiəs)
adjective
1.
covered with scabs; scabby
2.
of or like scabies
Word origin
< Fr or L: Fr scabieux < L scabiosus < scabies: see scab
scabious in American English2
(ˈskeɪbiəs)
noun
scabiosa
Examples of 'scabious' in a sentence
scabious
A lot of them were marked, or born wrong, or crooked, or scabious, looking for help from the Nazarene, for some panacea.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A ROOMFUL OF BIRDS - SCOTTISH SHORT STORIES 1990