definitions
  • synonyms

woodruff

[ woo d-ruh f, -ruhf ]
/ ˈwʊd rəf, -ˌrʌf /
|

noun

any of several plants belonging to the genus Asperula or Galium, of the madder family, as G. odoratum (sweet woodruff), a fragrant plant with small white flowers.

Nearby words

woodpecker, woodpile, woodprint, woodridge, woodrow, woodruff, woodruff key, woodrush, woods, woods colt, woods, tiger

Origin of woodruff

before 1000; Middle English woderove, Old English wudurofe, wudurife, equivalent to wudu wood1 + -rofe, -rife, element of uncertain meaning; compare German Rübe carrot

Definition for woodruff (2 of 2)

Woodruff

[ woo d-ruh f ]
/ ˈwʊd rəf /

noun

Hiram,1817–67, Canadian driver, trainer, and breeder of harness-racing horses.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for woodruff

British Dictionary definitions for woodruff

woodruff

/ (ˈwʊdrʌf) /

noun

any of several rubiaceous plants of the genus Galium, esp G. odoratum (sweet woodruff), of Eurasia, which has small sweet-scented white flowers and whorls of narrow fragrant leaves used to flavour wine and liqueurs and in perfumery

Word Origin for woodruff

Old English wudurofe, from wood 1 + rōfe, related to Old High German ruoba, Middle Low German rōve (beet)root, Latin rēpere to creep
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