woundwort

[ woond-wurt, -wawrt ]

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Stachys, belonging to the mint family, especially S. palustris, having hairy stems and leaves and whorled clusters of small, reddish flowers.
2. kidney vetch.

woundwort

/ ˈwuːndˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Stachys, such as S. arvensis ( field woundwort ), having purple, scarlet, yellow, or white flowers and formerly used for dressing wounds: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2. any of various other plants used in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of woundwort¹

First recorded in 1540–50; wound ¹ + wort ²

Example Sentences

That “Clownes woundwort” owes its name to a labourer who healed himself therewith of a cut with a scythe in his leg.

From Project Gutenberg