Bairnwort

/ˈbɛrnwɜːrt/ noun

Definition

A plant (possibly a folk remedy or traditional medicine plant) associated with children or used in treating children's ailments.

Etymology

Compound of Scottish 'bairn' (child) + English 'wort' (plant). The '-wort' suffix, common in English plant names (like mugwort, figwort), combines with 'bairn' to suggest a plant used for or associated with children.

Kelly Says

Plants with '-wort' names often reveal medieval herb-lore—'bairnwort' was probably a folk remedy mothers gave sick children, like how we still have plants named for their historical uses ('liverwort', 'birthwort').

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