ground ivy

noun

a creeping, aromatic plant, Glechoma hederacea, of the mint family, having rounded leaves and whorling clusters of small blue flowers.

ground ivy

a creeping or trailing Eurasian aromatic herbaceous plant, Glechoma (or Nepeta ) hederacea, with scalloped leaves and purplish-blue flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

All low-growing flowers—ground-ivy, and things that are not so tall as grass—are entangled with the spirit of place.

Or, boil juice of ground ivy with sweet oil and white wine into an ointment.

Or, rub the head several times a day with vinegar in which ground ivy leaves have been infused.

Ground ivy creeps everywhere over the banks, and covers the barest spot.

Jill-o'er-the-ground: Ground ivy; usually written Gill-over-the-ground.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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