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borage

[bawr-ij, bor-, bur-]
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noun
  1. a plant, Borago officinalis, native to southern Europe, having hairy leaves and stems, used medicinally and in salads.Compare borage family.
  2. any of various allied or similar plants.
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Origin of borage

1250–1300; Middle English burage < Anglo-French borage, bo(u)-rache, Middle French bourage < Vulgar Latin *burrāgō (Late Latin burra hair stuffing + -gō noun suffix)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for borage

Historical Examples

  • Let it stand till the sugar is dissolved, then put in a sprig of borage.

    Cakes &amp; Ale

    Edward Spencer

  • Mix well, pop in a few sprigs of borage, and a block or two of ice.

    Cakes &amp; Ale

    Edward Spencer

  • Garden rue and the short bristles of the borage are irritating.

  • It feeds on the wild heartsease, also on sainfoin and borage.

    British Butterfiles

    W. S. Coleman

  • I rather think that when the 12th of June shall have shaken off these shackles, there will be borage on the lawn at Gad's.

British Dictionary definitions for borage

borage

noun
  1. a European boraginaceous plant, Borago officinalis, with star-shaped blue flowers. The young leaves have a cucumber-like flavour and are sometimes used in salads or as seasoning
  2. any of several related plants
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Word Origin

C13: from Old French bourage, perhaps from Arabic abū `āraq literally: father of sweat, from its use as a diaphoretic
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for borage

n.

flowering plant used in salads, mid-13c., from Anglo-French, Old French borage (13c., Modern French bourrache), from Medieval Latin borrago. Klein says this is ultimately from Arabic abu arak, literally "the father of sweat," so called by Arab physicians for its effect on humans. But OED says it's from Latin borra "rough hair, short wool," in reference to the texture of the foliage.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper