ironwort

noun

1

: any of several shrubby or subshrubby mints that constitute the genus Sideritis, often have yellow flowers and whitish woolly stem or leaves, and are chiefly native to the eastern Mediterranean region

2

: hemp nettle

Word History

Etymology

so called from the belief that such mints cure sword wounds

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!