bugloss

[ byoo-glos, -glaws ]

noun

1. any of various Old World, boraginaceous herbs, as Anchusa officinalis, having rough leaves, used in medicine, and Lycopsis arvensis, a bristly, blue-flowered herb.

bugloss

/ ˈbjuːɡlɒs /

noun

1. any of various hairy Eurasian boraginaceous plants of the genera Anchusa , Lycopsis , and Echium , esp L. arvensis , having clusters of blue flowers See also viper's bugloss

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugloss¹

1350–1400; Middle English buglossa < Medieval Latin, for Latin būglōssos < Greek, equivalent to bou-, stem of boûs ox + -glōssos -tongued, adj. derivative of glôssa tongue

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugloss¹

C15: from Latin būglōssa , from Greek bouglōssos ox-tongued, from bōs ox + glōssa tongue

Example Sentences

The medicinal garden is one of eight discrete beds in the Bonnefont Cloister garden, where Montefusco and his gardeners grow such beguiling medieval herbs as viper’s bugloss, self-heal, cow-cockle and restharrow.

From Washington Post

It was in 1071 that he began to fortify, and portions of his masonry yet remain, fringed with ivy and tufts of grass, and here and there the bugloss growing from the crevices.

From Project Gutenberg

The name bugloss is derived from the Greek and means ox-tongue—no doubt in reference to the plant’s rough leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

“To preserve swine from sudden death take the worts lupin, bishopwort, hassuck grass, tufty thorn, vipers bugloss, drive the swine to the fold, hang the worts upon the four sides and upon the door.”

From Project Gutenberg

Non-fragrant flowers that yield honey are those of the raspberry, clematis, sumac, bugloss, ailanthus, goldenrod, aster, fleabane.

From Project Gutenberg