St. John's-Wort
/ˌseɪnt ˈdʒɒnz wɜːrt/noun
A yellow-flowered herb of the genus Hypericum, especially Hypericum perforatum, traditionally used medicinally.
Did you know?In European folk tradition, St. John’s-wort was gathered around St. John’s Day and used as a protective charm against witches, demons, and illness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wr̥d-
“Root or plant root; the reconstructed ancestor associated with later Germanic words for root and plant.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wurtiz
“Plant, herb, or root.”
Old English
OE
wyrt
“Plant, herb, or medicinal plant.”
Middle English
ME
wort
“A plant or herb, especially one valued for medicinal use.”
15th Century
English
seint johnes wort
“The herb associated with St. John, named for its flowering season around St. John’s Day.”
Modern English
English
St. John's-wort
“The common name for Hypericum perforatum and related species.”