woodruff
woodruff Lexical Profile
woodruff Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A low-growing herbaceous perennial plant (Galium odoratum) native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, characterized by whorled leaves and small white flowers that emit a strong, sweet scent resembling freshly mown hay when dried.
"She planted sweet woodruff in the shaded areas of the garden to act as a fragrant ground cover."
The fragrant dried foliage of the woodruff plant, traditionally used as an aromatic flavoring in certain European wines, syrups, and desserts, or used to scent linens.
"The traditional German May wine is famously flavored with steepings of fresh woodruff."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'wudurōfe', a compound of 'wudu' (wood) and 'rōfe' (of unknown origin). The modern spelling was influenced by folk etymology, associating the whorls of the plant's leaves with a ruffled collar (ruff).