borage

American  

[bawr-ij, bor-, bur-] / ˈbɔr ɪdʒ, ˈbɒr-, ˈbɜr- /

noun

1. a plant, Borago officinalis, native to southern Europe, having hairy leaves and stems, used medicinally and in salads.

2. any of various allied or similar plants.

---

borage British  

/ ˈbʌrɪdʒ, ˈbɒrɪdʒ /

noun

1. a European boraginaceous plant, Borago officinalis , with star-shaped blue flowers. The young leaves have a cucumber-like flavour and are sometimes used in salads or as seasoning

2. any of several related plants

---

Etymology

Origin of borage

1250–1300; Middle English burage < Anglo-French borage, bo ( u )- rache, Middle French bourage < Vulgar Latin *burrāgō ( Late Latin burra hair stuffing + -gō noun suffix)

Example Sentences

Herbs she grows — borage and lavender, for example — are sold off or given for free to garden shares and food forests.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 22, 2023

We found that strawberry plants grown near borage plants produced a greater quantity of fruits that were larger and of superior quality compared to strawberry plants located further away from other flowering plants.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2023

Think: calendula, borage flower essence, jasmine and grapefruit oils.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2022

Residence halls sit in groves of acacia and borage.

From The Guardian • Feb. 20, 2020

Then the scorpion grass, of both kinds, proclaimed that it was summer; and borage was bright in the sitting-room.

From The Old Helmet, Volume II by Warner, Susan