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Definition of houseleek

houseleek

/ˈhaʊs.liːk/
house · leek
Plural:houseleeks
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houseleek Lexical Profile

houseleek Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A hardy, evergreen succulent plant native to Europe and North Africa, characterized by tight rosettes of fleshy leaves and traditionally grown on walls and roofs.

Example

"The gardener planted a cluster of houseleeks in the shallow stone trough to add drought-resistant greenery to the terrace."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for houseleek

• Nearby Words

housekeep
housekeeper
housekeeping
houseleek
houseless
houselessness
houselights

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English hūslēac, combining hūs (house) + lēac (leek, plant). The name originates from the ancient European tradition of growing these succulents on thatched roofs to supposedly ward off lightning strikes and fire.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Houseleek. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/houseleek
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