leechdom

English

Etymology

From Middle English lechedom, from Old English lǣċedōm (“medicament, medicine; healing, salvation”), equivalent to leech +‎ -dom.

Noun

leechdom (plural leechdoms)

1. (archaic) A medicine; remedy.
   • 1864, Thomas Oswald Cockayne, Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England:

     That shall be a leechdom for her, for the one who there combeth her head.

   • 1903, Henry Duff Traill, James Saumarez Mann, Social England:

     Egina, the English practitioner of the time would make a collection of receipts, prescriptions, or leechdoms for the various injuries, wounds, and common maladies, substituting the native herbs when foreign drugs were not to be had.

   • 1965, Rerum Britannicarum Medii Ævi scriptores:

     A leechdom if thou will that an ill swelling and the venomous humour should burst out.

   • 2007, Donald Watts, Dictionary of Plant Lore - Page 141:

     The leechdom was for equal quantities of betony, celandine and yarrow juice mixed together, and then applied to the eyes.