First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
spurge
noun \ˈspərj\
Definition of SPURGE
: any of a family (Euphorbiaceae) of widely distributed herbs, shrubs, and trees often with a bitter milky juice; especially : euphorbia
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Origin of SPURGE
Middle English, from Anglo-French espurge, spurge, from espurger to clean out, purge, from Latin expurgare — more at expurgate
Medical Dictionary
spurge
noun \ˈspərj\
Medical Definition of SPURGE
: any of various mostly shrubby plants (family Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, and especially genus Euphorbia) that have a bitter milky juice and that include several which have been used medicinally—see ipecac spurge
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