Aaron's rod
/ˈɛəɹ.ənz ɹɒd/ · noun
Meaning
- Any of various plants with a tall flowering stem, especially:
- Verbascum thapsus, the great mullein, common mullein, or hag-taper.
- The penis.
- A rod with one serpent twined around it, as used by Aaron (differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two serpents).
- Hylotelephium telephium (syn. Sedum telephium; orpine, livelong, or live-forever).
- Goldenrod, the Solidago genus of North American plants with yellow flowers.
- A rod-shaped molding decorated with an entwined snake, and sometimes leaves, vines, and/or scrolls.
Etymology / origin
A reference to Numbers 17:8, the Authorized / KJV translation of which is "And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (spelling modernized).
Sources
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