comfrey

[ kuhm-free ]

noun

, plural com·freys.

1. any coarse Eurasian plant belonging to the genus Symphytum, of the borage family, as the widely cultivated S. officinale, having hairy, lance-shaped leaves and drooping clusters of small, white, rose-colored, or purplish flowers.

comfrey

/ ˈkʌmfrɪ /

noun

1. any hairy Eurasian boraginaceous plant of the genus Symphytum, having blue, purplish-pink, or white flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of comfrey¹

1275–1325; Middle English cumfirie, conferye < Anglo-French cumfirie, Old French confire < Medieval Latin *confervia for Latin conferva conferva

Word History and Origins

Origin of comfrey¹

C15: from Old French cunfirie, from Latin conferva water plant; see conferva

Example Sentences

He said herbs with bigger leaves generally do better in lower-light conditions so he recommends things such as basil, mint and Italian flat-leaf parsley, borage and comfrey.

From Seattle Times

In addition, liquid comfrey has other growth promoting factors produced by bacteria that are not present in commercial fertilizers.

From Seattle Times

I have begun using Steuart’s Pain Formula with arnica and comfrey.

From Seattle Times

In the lexicon of permaculture, comfrey is known as a dynamic accumulator.

From Seattle Times

She was applying her own “flower tea” — a mix of raw milk from their Nigerian dwarf goats, molasses, fermented plant juice, eggshell extract and comfrey — to give the plants a nutritional boost.

From Los Angeles Times