Definition

1. Noun:
   • A plant: Any of various aromatic, typically woolly-leaved perennial herbs of the genus Marrubium, especially the common horehound (Marrubium vulgare), known for its bitter taste and traditional medicinal uses.
   • A confection: A type of candy, lozenge, or cough drop that is flavored with an extract made from the horehound plant.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Plant):
  • The herbalist gathered horehound from the dry field to make a soothing tea.
  • Common horehound is easily identified by its white, downy stems and wrinkled leaves.
• Noun (Candy):
  • My grandfather always carried horehound drops in his pocket to soothe his throat.
  • The old-fashioned candy shop sold sticks of flavored horehound.

Advanced Usage

• "horehound tea": An infusion made by steeping the leaves of the horehound plant in hot water, traditionally used as a folk remedy.
  • She brewed a cup of horehound tea to help with her cough.
• "horehound extract": A concentrated liquid derived from the horehound plant, used for flavoring.
  • The recipe calls for a few drops of horehound extract.

Variants and Related Words

• Common horehound (): The most well-known species.
• White horehound: Another name for common horehound, referring to the color of its foliage.
• Black horehound (): A related but different plant in the mint family, not used for candy.
• Hoarhound: An archaic or alternative spelling.

Synonyms

• Marrubium: The botanical genus name.
• Cough candy: A general term for medicated lozenges, which can include horehound candy.

Notes on Meaning

The word horehound primarily refers to the bitter, medicinal herb. Its use to describe a candy is a direct extension, as the candy is specifically flavored with this plant. It is not a general term for any type of mint or candy.

Noun

1. a candy that is flavored with an extract of the horehound plant
2. any of various aromatic herbs of the genus Marrubium