Etymology

Aaron's rod

Today it means: Verbascum thapsus, the great mullein, common mullein, or hag-taper. Full definition →

First used First attested in the mid 18th century.
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The story

A reference to Numbers 17:8, the Authorized / KJV translation: "And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (spelling modernized).

First known use, by meaning

  • First attested in the mid 18th century. Verbascum thapsus, the great mullein, common mullein, or hag-taper.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.