Definition

Noun: 1. A North American perennial herb: Mad-dog weed is the common name for a plant species in the mint family (Lamiaceae), specifically Lycopus virginicus. It is characterized by its square stems, opposite leaves, and small white flowers. 2. A source of medicinal resin: Historically, this plant yielded a resinous substance used for its supposed therapeutic properties, particularly to treat conditions involving spasms or convulsions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The herbalist collected mad-dog weed from the damp soil near the creek.
  • In 19th-century medicine, a tincture made from mad-dog weed was sometimes administered.

Advanced Usage

• The name "mad-dog weed" is an example of a folk etymology or historical common name, reflecting its archaic use. Modern botanical and medical texts primarily use the plant's scientific name, , or the common name Virginia water horehound.
• The "mad-dog" part of the name likely originates from its historical, now obsolete, application in treatments for rabies (hydrophobia), which was once called "mad-dog disease."

Variants and Related Words

• Virginia water horehound: The more standard modern common name for the same plant ().
• Bugleweed: A common name that sometimes refers to plants in the same genus (), though it more accurately refers to plants in the genus .
• Lycopus virginicus: The scientific (Latin) binomial name for the species.

Synonyms

• Virginia water horehound
• (Historically) Bugleweed (this can be ambiguous)

Notes on Meaning

• The term is archaic and primarily of historical interest. It is not a standard term in contemporary horticulture, medicine, or general English.
• Its meaning is highly specific, referring only to this particular plant species and its historical use. It is not used idiomatically or in common phrases.

Noun

1. an American mint that yields a resinous exudate used especially formerly as an antispasmodic