butterbur

[ buht-er-bur ]

noun

1. any of several composite plants of the genus Petasites, having large, woolly leaves said to have been used to wrap butter.

butterbur

/ ˈbʌtəˌbɜː /

noun

1. a plant of the Eurasian genus Petasites with fragrant whitish or purple flowers, woolly stems, and leaves formerly used to wrap butter: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterbur¹

First recorded in 1540–50; butter + bur ¹

Example Sentences

Its chief haunts, among the butterbur (Petasites), are in the northern counties from Cheshire to Durham.

From Project Gutenberg

The Common Butterbur grows in wet places, especially beside streams.

From Project Gutenberg

The flower of Butterbur, he writes, is the first to appear, before the plant or leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

As an instance of his manner we may cite his account of the Butterbur, of which his wood-cut is shown in Text-fig.

From Project Gutenberg

So, too, the butterbur of the river flowers before its great leaf comes.

From Project Gutenberg