English Explanatory Dictionary

mullein

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

Any of a few hundred species of European and Asian plants, of the genus Verbascum, especially that majority that have yellow flowers.

Pronunciation

/ˈmʌlɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-mullein.wav

Word forms

mullein mulleins mullen

Etymology

From Middle English moleyne, from Anglo-Norman moleine, which is either a Celtic borrowing and derived from Proto-Celtic *melinos (“yellow”) from *meli (“honey”) – an adjective found in Breton melen (“yellow”) and Welsh melyn (“yellow”) – or from mol (“soft”), from Latin mollis (“soft”), referencing the plant's fluffy, downy leaves, also apparent in synonyms such as feltwort, flannel leaf, and velvet plant.

Synonyms

Derived words

common mullein Cretan mullein dark mullein great mullein hoary mullein moth mullein mullein foxglove mullein pink mullein wave nettle-leaved mullein orange mullein petty mullein purple mullein sage mullein sageleaf mullein showy mullein turkey mullein twiggy mullein wand mullein wavyleaf mullein Verbascum sinuatum) white mullein woolly mullein

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