mullein

or mul·len

[ muhl-uhn ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Verbascum, of the figwort family, native to the Old World, especially V. thapsus, a tall plant with woolly leaves and a dense spike of yellow flowers.
2. any of several similar plants.

mullein

/ ˈmʌlɪn /

noun

1. any of various European herbaceous plants of the scrophulariaceous genus Verbascum, such as V. thapsus (common mullein or Aaron's rod), typically having tall spikes of yellow flowers and broad hairy leaves See also Aaron's rod

Word History and Origins

Origin of mullein¹

1325–75; Middle English moleine < Anglo-French, perhaps derivative of mol soft < Latin mollis

Word History and Origins

Origin of mullein¹

C15: from Old French moleine, probably from Old French mol soft, from Latin mollis

Example Sentences

Self-seeded mullein has grown up around a cracked but intact mosaic of Pegasus.

From Washington Post

Commonly known as moth mullein for its antenna-like stamens, this species was introduced to North America in the 1800s and lives an unassuming life in fields and meadows.

From Seattle Times

On a walk Lynx found some deer scat and handed it out, and a bit of stringy inner bark too, some dead limbs, mullein stalks.

From New York Times

“We’d better make a fresh batch of juniper and mullein flower.”

From Literature

During our hike, he had darted ahead of me with ease, disappearing around switchbacks and over bluffs and across a meadow of dry towering velvet mullein before leading me to Cedar Butte.

From New York Times