Betony
/ˈbɛt.əni/noun
A perennial herb in the mint family, traditionally used in herbal medicine.
Did you know?In medieval herb lore, betony was so prized that it appeared in old remedies and charms, with writers treating it as a plant that could guard both body and spirit.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Celtic / Pre-Roman
Celtic
*betonica
“A name for the herb betony, likely borrowed into Latin from a Celtic source”
Late Latin
Latin
betonica
“Betony, the medicinal herb”
Old French
Old French
betoine
“Betony”
Middle English
English
betonye
“Betony, the herb used in medicine and charms”
Modern English
English
betony
“A mint-family herb, especially Stachys officinalis”