Fēr'ū-lă, n.

n. [Lat. ferula, giant fennel, from ferire, to strike; so called because its stalks were used in punishing school-boys.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of plants; giant fennel. The inspissated juice of the roots of some species, especially F. Persica, is the asafetida of commerce.
2. A ferule. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
3. The emperor’s scepter in the Eastern Empire.