comfrey

American  

[kuhm-free] / ˈkʌm fri /

noun

comfreys plural

1. any coarse Eurasian plant belonging to the genus Symphytum, of the borage family, as the widely cultivated S. officinale, having hairy, lance-shaped leaves and drooping clusters of small, white, rose-colored, or purplish flowers.

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comfrey British  

/ ˈkʌmfrɪ /

noun

1. any hairy Eurasian boraginaceous plant of the genus Symphytum, having blue, purplish-pink, or white flowers

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• comfreys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of comfrey

1275–1325; Middle English cumfirie, conferye < Anglo-French cumfirie, Old French confire < Medieval Latin *confervia for Latin conferva conferva

Example Sentences

Once your comfrey becomes established, you’ll have a lifetime source of natural fertilizer.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

For a very quick and not so offensive fertilizer, you can make up small batches of fresh comfrey fertilizer in your kitchen.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

The easiest way of all to use comfrey is to spread cut leaves on the soil alongside growing plants.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

A: Traditionally, both comfrey and arnica have been used as topical medicines for pain or bruising.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2022

Pausing among the comfrey and ground elder, they stared at each other, seeking reassurance.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams