Coltsfoot

/ˈkoʊltsˌfʊt/ noun

Definition

A common wildflower with yellow flowers and large, heart-shaped leaves, used historically in herbal medicine for respiratory ailments.

Etymology

From Middle English 'colt's foot,' named because the plant's leaves resemble the shape of a horse's hoof or footprint. The plant is scientifically known as Tussilago farfara, with 'tussis' being Latin for 'cough' (its traditional medicinal use).

Kelly Says

Coltsfoot was so popular as a cough remedy that it was actually featured on the herb and medicine signs of historical apothecaries—a plant so trusted that its common name got preserved even as most other folk remedy names faded.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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