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Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a fungoid parasite found on several cereals, principally rye. The seed is replaced by a dense homogeneous tissue largely charged with an oily fluid. In its perfect state this germinates and produces the Claviceps. When eaten it causes the disease of ergotism (formerly known as St Anthony's Fire) which can be fatal. It is widely used in medicine as it contains more than a dozen potent alkaloids and was used in obstetric practice to promote the contraction of the uterus.
 Research Ergot
Heart's Ease also known as wild pansy, Love-lies-Bleeding, Love-in-Idleness and Bullweed (Viola tricolor) is a British annual wild violet found on hedge banks and waste grounds. The flowers vary in colour and size, but are generally purple, yellow or white and most commonly a combination of the three. The upper petals are generally the most showy and usually purplish in tint. The lowest and broadest petal is usually yellow and has its base elongated into a spur. The Saxons called it Banwort or Banewort. It receives its alternative names of Love-Lies-Bleeding and Love-in-Idleness from the former belief in the plant as a potent love-charm, and is mentioned in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream as such.
Research Heart's Ease
Godfrey's cordial was a potent medicine first developed in the first quarter of the 18th century and formerly given to children suffering from colic or hunger pangs, particularly by the poor. It consisted of sassafras, opium, brandy or other spirits, carraway seed and treacle.
Research Godfrey's Cordial
Lignocaine is a short-term local anaesthetic injected into tissues or applied to skin. It is effective for brief, invasive procedures such as dental care or insertion of a cannula into a vein. Temporary paralysis (to prevent involuntary movement during eye surgery, for example) can be achieved by injection directly into the nerve serving the region. Rapidly absorbed by mucous membranes, lignocaine may be sprayed into the nose or throat to allow comfortable insertion of a viewing instrument during endoscopy. Its action makes it a potent anti-arrhythmia drug as well: given intravenously during or following a heart attack, it reduces the risk of cardiac arrest.
Research Lignocaine
Monkey Wrench is a smooth, dark, sweetish, potent beer which is produced by the Daleside brewery in the spa town of Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Research Monkey Wrench
In heraldry, a cross potent is a cross comprised of four potents (crutch heads).
Research Cross Potent
In heraldry, potent is one of the furs; a surface composed of patches which are supposed to represent crutch heads; they are always alternately argent and azure, unless otherwise specially mentioned.
Research Potent
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours. In English heraldry the tinctures comprise two metals, five colours and eight furs. They are symbolised or indicated by dots and lines - a system noted for its convenience and said to have been introduced about 1630 by an Italian named Silvestre de Petrasancta, though some such symbolism has been found predating him. Over the years the method of symbolism evolved, and the modern system was developed around the start of the 18th century.
Each tincture has a name, a title, an abbreviation and a symbolic representation. The two metals are gold, with the title or and the abbreviation or, represented by dots on a white background; silver with the title argent and the abbreviation arg, which is represented by a plain white surface. The colours are blue, titled azure, abbreviated az and represented by horizontal parallel lines; red titled gules, abbreviated gu and represented by parallel vertical lines; black, titled sable, abbreviated sa and represented by by vertical and horizontal lines crossing each other; green, titled vert, abbreviated vert and represented by parallel lines sloping downward toward the right; purple titled purpure, abbreviated purp and represented by diagonal lines declining from the sinister chief to the dexter base.
The eight furs are not abbreviated, and are known by their titles. They are: ermine, represented by black spots on white; ermines represented by white spots on black; erminois represented by black spots on a background of small black dots on a white background (the symbol for gold); pean represented by small black dots on a white background (the symbol for gold) on black; vair represented by alternating silver and blue spots; counter vair; potent represented by alternating silver and blue spots; and counter potent.
Two other colours were formerly used in English heraldry. These were tenne, an orange-brown colour represented by vertical lines crossing diagonal lines declining from the sinister chief to the dexter base; and murrey or sanguine, a dark crimson red colour represented by diagonal lines from both the dexter and sinister sides crossing each other.
Research Tincture
Baldface whisky is American slang for cheap, rough, potent whisky.
Research Baldface Whisky
Gungeon is Black-American slang for potent marijuana
Research Gungeon
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The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
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