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horehound

noun
hore·​hound | \ ˈhȯr-ˌhau̇nd How to pronounce horehound (audio) \

Definition of horehound

1a : 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, "Teacher-turned-environmentalist finds both sanctuary and poetry in Orange County’s wilderness," 13 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'horehound.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of horehound

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

History and Etymology for horehound

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

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More Definitions for horehound

horehound

noun
hore·​hound
variants: also hoarhound \ ˈhō(ə)r-​ˌhau̇nd, ˈhȯ(ə)r-​ How to pronounce hoarhound (audio) \

Medical Definition of horehound

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

More from Merriam-Webster on horehound

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with horehound

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about horehound

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