prunella
prunella Lexical Profile
prunella Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various low-growing herbaceous perennial plants of the genus Prunella in the mint family Lamiaceae, native primarily to Europe, Asia, and North America, cultivated as groundcover and notable for bearing dense terminal spikes of small, tubular, two-lipped violet, purple, pink, or white flowers.
A strong, heavy woolen, worsted, or silk-blend fabric woven in a twill or satin weave, historically used for academic and clerical gowns and later for the uppers of women's boots and shoes.
"In the nineteenth century, ladies' ankle boots were frequently crafted with durable uppers of black prunella."
Any small passerine bird belonging to the family Prunellidae (genus Prunella), native to the Old World and better known as an accentor or dunnock.
• Rhymes for prunella
Word Origin & Etymology
The botanical sense derives from Medieval Latin prunella, altered from German Bräune ('quinsy' or 'diphtheria'), referring to the herb's traditional medicinal use in treating throat inflammations; the textile sense derives from French prunelle ('sloe'), from the dark purplish-black color originally given to the fabric.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.