Meanings
plural herbages
- uncountableusuallyHerbs collectively.
- uncountableusuallyHerbaceous plant growth, especially grass.
I threw myself upon my face, and clung to the scant herbage in an excess of nervous agitation.
1841, Edgar Allan Poe, A Descent into the Maelström1 more example
The dank breath of herbage, sodden with rain, came to her; the mists were barely visible, hovering above the dark ravines.
1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 97 - uncountableusuallyThe fleshy, often edible, parts of plants.
- uncountableusuallylawThe natural pasture of a land, considered as distinct from the land itself; hence, right of pasture (on another man's land).
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinherba“grass”
- Early Medieval Latinherbāticum
- Old Frencherbage
- Middle Englishherbage
- Englishherbage
From Middle English herbage, from Old French erbage, from Early Medieval Latin herbāticum, from Latin herba (“grass”). By surface analysis, herb + -age.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Early Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian трева, зеленина
- трева (treva)herbs collectively
- зеленина (zelenina)herbs collectively
- трева (treva)herbaceous plant growth, especially grass
- паша (paša)fleshy, often edible, parts of plants
- право на паша (pravo na paša)right of pasture
Catalan herbam, herbatge
- herbamherbs collectively
- herbatgeherbs collectively
Esperanto herbaro
- herbaroherbs collectively
French herbage
- herbageherbs collectively
Latin herba, herbaticum
- herbaherbaceous plant growth, especially grass
- herbaticumright of pasture
- herbagiumright of pasture
Māori raurēkau
- raurēkauherbaceous plant growth, especially grass
Portuguese ervagem
- ervagemherbs collectively
Russian травосто́й
- травосто́й (travostój)herbaceous plant growth, especially grass
Spanish herbaje
- herbajeherbs collectively
Cite this entry
herbage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herbage
“herbage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herbage. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “herbage,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herbage.
Source: herbage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.