Etymology

moonwort

M3O1O1N1W4O1R1T1

Today it means: A small fern, Botrychium lunaria (lesser moonwort); later, any member of the genus. Full definition →

First used 15th c.
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The story

From moon + wort.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. A small fern, Botrychium lunaria (lesser moonwort); later, any member of the genus.
  • from 16th c. Lunaria annua (greater moonwort); also known as honesty and annual honesty.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.