Yarrow
/ˈjæroʊ/noun
A common plant with feathery leaves and clusters of small flowers, often used in herbal medicine.
Did you know?Yarrow’s English name is ancient and obscure, but the plant itself was used in traditional folk medicine and ritual practices across Europe, where it was often associated with protection and healing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵerh₂-
“to make rough, to scratch or gnaw”
Old English
OE
gearwe
“yarrow, the medicinal plant”
Middle English
ME
yarwe
“yarrow”
Modern English
English
yarrow
“the plant Achillea millefolium”