hound's-tongue

[ houndz-tuhng ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Cynoglossum, of the borage family, especially C. officinale, having coarse, tongue-shaped leaves, dull purple flowers, and prickly nutlets.

hound's-tongue

noun

1. any boraginaceous weedy plant of the genus Cynoglossum, esp the Eurasian C. officinale, which has small reddish-purple flowers and spiny fruits Also calleddog's-tongue

Word History and Origins

Origin of hound's-tongue¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hundestunge, translation of Latin cynoglōssos < Greek kynóglōssos, kynóglōsson (adj.) literally, dog-tongued

Word History and Origins

Origin of hound's-tongue¹

Old English hundestunge, translation of Latin cynoglōssos, from Greek kunoglōssos, from kuōn dog + glōssa tongue; referring to the shape of its leaves