Woundwort
/ˈwuːnd.wɜːrt/noun
Any of several plants traditionally used in folk medicine for treating wounds.
Did you know?In Old English, -wort simply meant “plant” or “herb,” so woundwort is a fully literal folk-medicine name, not a poetic one—an everyday reminder that words once carried healing power.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
wundwyrt
“a herb used for wounds; literally “wound plant””
Middle English
ME
woundewort
“a medicinal herb associated with healing wounds”
Modern English
English
woundwort
“a plant, especially one traditionally regarded as useful in treating wounds”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wundō
“wound, injury”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wurtiz
“plant, herb, root”
Explore more surprising origins