ASHWEDNESDAY, noun The first day of Lent; supposed to be so called from a custom in the Romish Church of sprinkling ashes, that day, on the heads of penitents, then admitted to penance. ASH'-WEED, noun A plant, the small wild angelica, gout-wort, goats-foot, or herb-gerard.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI