horehound

noun

hore·​hound ˈhȯr-ˌhau̇nd How to pronounce horehound (audio)
1
a
: an Old World bitter perennial mint (Marrubium vulgare) with downy leaves
b
: an extract or confection made from the dried leaves and flowering tops of this plant
2
: any of several mints resembling the horehound

Examples of horehound in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Volunteers like Wright remove invasive plant species such as fennel, pampas grass, castor bean, fountain grass, horehound, Sahara mustard, tecolote. David Whiting, Orange County Register, 13 Jan. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'horehound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English horhoune, from Old English hārhūne, from hār hoary + hūne horehound — more at hoar

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of horehound was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near horehound

Cite this Entry

“Horehound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horehound. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

horehound

noun
hore·​hound
variants also hoarhound
1
: a European aromatic mint (Marrubium vulgare) that is naturalized in the United States, has pubescent leaves and small axillary flowers, has a very bitter taste, and is used as a tonic and anthelmintic

called also white horehound

2
: an extract or confection made from horehound and used as a remedy for coughs and colds

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