Etymology

motherwort

M3O1T1H4E1R1W4O1R1T1

Today it means: Any of several perennial plants of the genus Leonurus, especially Leonurus cardiaca, used in traditional medicine to help with childbirth or treat uterine disorders. Full definition →

First used 13th c.Middle English moderwort
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The story

  1. Middle English · inherited frommoderwort
  2. English todaymotherwort

From Middle English moderwort; equivalent to mother + wort. Compare Chinese 益母草 (yìmǔcǎo)

First known use, by meaning

  • from 13th c. Any of several perennial plants of the genus Leonurus, especially Leonurus cardiaca, used in traditional medicine to help with childbirth or treat uterine disorders.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.