pen·ny·roy·al (p n  -roi  l)n. 1. A Eurasian mint (Mentha pulegium) having small lilac-blue flowers and ovate or nearly orbicular leaves that yield a useful, aromatic oil. 2. An aromatic plant (Hedeoma pulegioides) of eastern North America, having purple-blue flowers and glabrous leaves that yield an oil used as an insect repellent. [Probably by folk etymology from Middle English puliol real, from Anglo-Norman : puliol, thyme (from Latin p  legium) + real, royal (from Latin rg lis; see regal).] |
pennyroyal [ˌpɛnɪˈrɔɪəl]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a Eurasian plant, Mentha pulegium, with hairy leaves and small mauve flowers, that yields an aromatic oil used in medicine: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called mock pennyroyal a similar and related plant, Hedeoma pulegioides, of E North America
[variant of Anglo-Norman puliol real, from Old French pouliol (from Latin pūleium pennyroyal) + real royal]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  pennyroyal - Eurasian perennial mint have small lilac-blue flowers and ovate leaves; yields an aromatic oilmint - any north temperate plant of the genus Mentha with aromatic leaves and small mauve flowers pennyroyal oil - oil from European pennyroyal having an odor like mint; used chiefly in soaps |
| 2. |  pennyroyal - erect hairy branching American herb having purple-blue flowers; yields an essential oil used as an insect repellent and sometimes in folk medicineherb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests genus Hedeoma, Hedeoma - small genus of American herbs (American pennyroyal) hedeoma oil, pennyroyal oil - aromatic oil from American pennyroyal |
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