woodruff

[ woo d-ruh f, -ruhf ]
/ ˈwʊd rəf, -ˌrʌf /

noun

any of several plants belonging to the genus Asperula or Galium, of the madder family, as G. odoratum (sweet woodruff), a fragrant plant with small white flowers.

Origin of woodruff

before 1000; Middle English woderove, Old English wudurofe, wudurife, equivalent to wudu wood1 + -rofe, -rife, element of uncertain meaning; compare German Rübe carrot

Words nearby woodruff

woodpecker, woodpile, woodprint, woodridge, woodrow, woodruff, woodruff key, woodrush, woods, woods colt, woods, tiger

Definition for woodruff (2 of 2)

Woodruff
[ woo d-ruh f ]
/ ˈwʊd rəf /

noun

Hiram,1817–67, Canadian driver, trainer, and breeder of harness-racing horses.

Example sentences from the Web for woodruff

British Dictionary definitions for woodruff

woodruff
/ (ˈwʊdrʌf) /

noun

any of several rubiaceous plants of the genus Galium, esp G. odoratum (sweet woodruff), of Eurasia, which has small sweet-scented white flowers and whorls of narrow fragrant leaves used to flavour wine and liqueurs and in perfumery

Word Origin for woodruff

Old English wudurofe, from wood 1 + rōfe, related to Old High German ruoba, Middle Low German rōve (beet)root, Latin rēpere to creep