cohosh

C3O1H4O1S1H4
/kəˈhɒʃ/

noun

A perennial American herb (Caulophyllum thalictroides), the rough rootstock of which is used in medicine.

Similar
blue cohoshsquaw rootpapoose rootCimicifuga racemosablack cohoshblack bugbaneblack snakerootfairy candle
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nouncohosh (countable and uncountable, plural cohoshes)

plural cohoshes

  1. countableuncountableA perennial American herb (Caulophyllum thalictroides), the rough rootstock of which is used in medicine.

    Synonyms: blue cohosh, squaw root, papoose root

  2. countableuncountableA smooth herb, Actaea racemosa, marketed for medicinal use.

    Synonyms: Cimicifuga racemosa, black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot, fairy candle

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA perennial American herb (Caulophyllum thalictroides), the rough rootstock of which is used in medicine.

Similar
blue cohoshsquaw rootpapoose root

nounA smooth herb, Actaea racemosa, marketed for medicinal use.

Similar
Cimicifuga racemosablack cohoshblack bugbaneblack snakerootfairy candle

More synonyms by meaning

nouna plant of the genus Actaea having acrid poisonous berries

Similar
baneberryherb Christopher
Broader
poisonous plant
Also see
baneberryblue cohoshherb christopher

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From an Algonquian word meaning rough, probably from Eastern Abenaki / Penobscot *kkwὰhas. Compare Massachusett kushki (“(it is) rough”). Compare English cocash.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with cohosh

washjoshgoshmoustachecoshmoshboshawashswashfroshquashdoshnoshbriocheclocheguillochekiboshdownwashcloshgâchegaloshmusquashskoshsplosh
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

cohosh. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cohosh

MLA

“cohosh.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cohosh. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cohosh,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cohosh.

Source: cohosh on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.