parsley piert

noun

plural parsley pierts

1

: a small European annual herb (Alchemilla arvensis or Aphanes arvensis) of the family Rosaceae having fan-shaped 3-parted leaves with the divisions 2-cleft to 4-cleft and axillary greenish flowers

2

: a heath (Erica aphanes) of southern Africa

3

: knawel

Word History

Etymology

probably by folk etymology (influence of parsley entry 1 and of English dialect piert, alteration of English pert) from Middle French perce-pierre, from percer to pierce + pierre stone, from Latin petra rock, stone, from Greek

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