pennyroyal

[ pen-ee-roi-uhl ]

noun

1. an aromatic Old World plant, Mentha pulegium, of the mint family, having clusters of small purple flowers and yielding a pungent essential oil used medicinally and as an insect repellent.
2. Also called mock pennyroyal. a similar, related plant, Hedeoma pulegioides, of eastern North America, having bluish flowers growing from the leaf axils.
3. any of several other aromatic plants of the mint family.

pennyroyal

/ ˌpɛnɪˈrɔɪəl /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Mentha pulegium, with hairy leaves and small mauve flowers, that yields an aromatic oil used in medicine: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2. Also calledmock pennyroyal a similar and related plant, Hedeoma pulegioides, of E North America

Word History and Origins

Origin of pennyroyal¹

1520–30; penny + royal; replacing late Middle English puliol real < Anglo-French; Middle French poliol (< Latin *pūlēgiōlum, diminutive of pūlēgium pennyroyal) + real, earlier form of royal

Word History and Origins

Origin of pennyroyal¹

C16: variant of Anglo-Norman puliol real, from Old French pouliol (from Latin pūleium pennyroyal) + real royal

Example Sentences

The herbs commonly used included pennyroyal and tansy.

From New York Times

Residents carried around bottles of peppermint oil and pennyroyal to mask the stench.

From Washington Post

Among the potentially murderous or mind-altering flora are datura, oleander, narcissus and pennyroyal.

From Washington Post

However, today’s decision seems more likely to address videos promoting self-managed abortions with herbs like mugwort and pennyroyal, a practice many herbalists have warned is unreliable and can cause serious health problems.

From The Verge

For example, pennyroyal, a plant featured in many of the posts, contains a compound called pulegone that is toxic to the liver and potentially deadly.

From Seattle Times