hound's tongue

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

Any of genus Cynoglossum of small-flowered herbs and shrubs of the Old World
especially, a biennial weed (Cynoglossum officinale) with soft tongue-shaped leaves and an offensive odour. It bears nutlets covered with barbed or hooked prickles.

Word forms

hound's tongue hound's tongues houndstongue hound's-tongue

Etymology

From Middle English houndestonge, from Old English hundes tunge (“hound’s tongue (cynoglossum officinale)”), a calque of Latin cynoglossos, itself from Ancient Greek κυνόγλωσσον (kunóglōsson, literally “hound’s tongue”). Compare Dutch hondstong, German Hundszunge.

Synonyms

dog's tongue rib

Derived words

Australian hound's tongue blue hound's tongue Drakensberg hound's tongue fuzzy hound's tongue green hound's tongue magenta hound's tongue small hound's tongue soft hound's tongue) woolly hound's tongue

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