horehound

or hoar·hound

[ hawr-hound, hohr- ]

noun

1. an Old World plant, Marrubium vulgare, of the mint family, having downy leaves and small, whitish flowers, and containing a bitter, medicinal juice that is used as an expectorant, vermifuge, and laxative.
2. any of various plants of the mint family.
3. a brittle candy or lozenge flavored with horehound extract.

horehound

/ ˈhɔːˌhaʊnd /

noun

1. Also calledwhite horehound a downy perennial herbaceous Old World plant, Marrubium vulgare , with small white flowers that contain a bitter juice formerly used as a cough medicine and flavouring: family Lamiaceae (labiates) See also black horehound
2. water horehound
   another name for bugleweed

Word History and Origins

Origin of horehound¹

before 1000; Middle English horehune, Old English hārhūne, equivalent to hār gray, hoar + hūne horehound

Word History and Origins

Origin of horehound¹

Old English hārhūne, from hār grey + hūne horehound, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Lisa and Rob Maxwell stock old-fashioned lemon and horehound drops, licorice, penny candy, and their own homemade fudge at Little City Candy Co.

From Seattle Times

He cared for the dying with medical attention, horehound candy and rice pudding, soothing caresses, and poetry.

From The New Yorker

The lake was layered with sweet flag, sedge, lilies, horehound, bulrush and buckbean.

From New York Times

Christmas on the farm usually meant a few pairs of bib coveralls along with some horehound candy and fruit under the tree.

From Washington Times

Time after time, it dipped in and out of the candy counter: peppermint sticks, jawbreakers, horehound, and gumdrops.

From Literature