Prunella
/pruːˈnɛlə/noun
A word used for a dark brown or black wool fabric, and also the name of a plant genus in the mint family.
Did you know?Prunella is historically tied to a dark cloth name, and the plant genus was later named for its resemblance to the same deep, dusky color association.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
prūna
“A live coal or glowing ember; also a plum in later Romance development”
Old French
OF
prunelle
“A small plum; later also the dark fabric name”
14th–16th Century
English
prunell
“A dark woolen cloth, especially a sturdy brown or black fabric”
Modern English
English
prunella
“A dark fabric name and, secondarily, a botanical genus name”