adj.
Pronunciation: ' sk ā -b ē - ə s, ' ska-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English scabiose, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin scabiosa, from Latin, feminine of scabiosus, adjective
Date: 14th century
: any of a genus ( Scabiosa ) of Old World herbs of the teasel family with terminal flower heads subtended by a leafy involucre