Bragwort

/ˈbræɡwɜːrt/ noun

Definition

A plant believed to have properties associated with bravery or boasting, or possibly a folk remedy from medieval herbalism.

Etymology

From 'brag' plus 'wort' (a plant or herb). The term appears rarely in historical herbals, suggesting it may have been a folk name for an unknown plant or a whimsical name invented for comic effect.

Kelly Says

The '-wort' suffix was attached to countless plants in medieval times—some real (mugwort, figwort), some probably made up—and 'bragwort' might have been a joking name for a plant someone thought made you talk too much.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.