cohosh

American  

[koh-hosh, koh-hosh] / ˈkoʊ hɒʃ, koʊˈhɒʃ /

noun

1. either of two unrelated plants of the eastern U.S., Cimicifuga racemosa black cohosh, or squawroot, of the buttercup family, or Caulophyllum thalictroides blue cohosh, or papoose-root, of the barberry family, both used medicinally.

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cohosh British  

/ kəʊˈhɒʃ, ˈkəʊhɒʃ /

noun

1. any of several North American plants, such as the blue cohosh ( Caulophyllum thalictroides: family Leonticaceae ) and black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa: family Ranunculaceae )

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Etymology

Origin of cohosh

First recorded in 1790–1800, from Eastern Abenaki kkwὰhas

Example Sentences

When I first went through menopause 20 years ago, I started to take black cohosh.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2023

In the 1860s, an American suspecting a possible pregnancy may have used plants like tansy, black or blue cohosh, rue, angelica or pennyroyal to bring on bleeding.

From Slate • Jul. 18, 2022

In addition to American ginseng, Felumlee cultivates goldenseal, black cohosh, blue cohosh, bloodroot, red trillium, and false unicorn under his trees’ canopy.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2019

I read that the trick is to drink gallons of water, take black cohosh – no, none of those, in fact the trick is to ignore it.

From The Guardian • Aug. 17, 2019

You should be able to design a number of pretty things from the cohosh leaves and berries, too.

From The Harvester by Stratton-Porter, Gene