whiteflaw

English

Noun

whiteflaw

1. (obsolete) Synonym of whitlow.
   • 1562, Wylliam Turner [i.e., William Turner], “Of the Myrt Tre”, in The Second Parte of Guilliam Turners Herball⸝ […], Cologne: […] Arnold Birckman, →OCLC, folio 61, recto:

     The pouder of the withered leues⸝ is good to be caſt vpon the whitflaw⸝ aguayles.

   • 1852, Richard Dowden, Walks after Wild Flowers; or The Botany of the Bohereens, page 105:

     The useful stimulating qualities of these herbs as a cure for paronychia, may have been further recommended by the resemblance of the seed-pod to the " whiteflaw," or inflamed vesicle, which it was intended to allay.

   • 1877, John Brand, Henry Ellis, Observations on Popular Antiquities:

     A cock is offered (at least was wont to be) to St Christopher in Touraine for a certaine sore which useth to be in the end of men's fingers, the whiteflaw” (World of Wonders, 1607). The cock was to be a white one.