ground ivy

American  

noun

1. a creeping, aromatic plant, Glechoma hederacea, of the mint family, having rounded leaves and whorling clusters of small blue flowers.

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ground ivy British  

noun

1. a creeping or trailing Eurasian aromatic herbaceous plant, Glechoma (or Nepeta ) hederacea, with scalloped leaves and purplish-blue flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

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Etymology

Origin of ground ivy

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ground ivy

Forget the impending dandelions and violets; I’m talking about established winter weeds, whose roots now go deep — interlopers like henbit, chickweed, bittercress and ground ivy.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2021

It was designed to control weeds such as dandelions, clover, thistle, plantains and ground ivy.

From Reuters ● Sep. 15, 2014

She came with the dog violets and the ground ivy and the meadow orchises, and several other lovely purple things, at least that was how her advent was always associated in Avelyn's mind.

From For the School Colours by Brazil, Angela

When a baby wuz cuttin' teeth, dey biled ground ivy and give 'em.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 1 by Work Projects Administration

Take a handful of horehound, a handful of rue, a handful of hyssop, and the same quantity of ground ivy and of tormentil, with a small quantity of long plantain, pennyroyal, and five finger.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849