sea holly

noun

: a European coastal herb (Eryngium maritimum) of the carrot family with spiny leaves and pale blue flowers

Examples of sea holly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For a cat-proof garden, grow plants with prickly stems and leaves, like squash, globe thistle, and sea holly, or plant strongly scented herbs, such as lemon thyme, Russian sage, rosemary, and rue. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2024 Like Eupatorium maculatum [spotted joe-pye weed], Asclepias tuberosa [butterfly weed] and species of echinacea [coneflower], aster and eryngium [sea holly]. John Wogan Carmen Winant, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea holly was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near sea holly

Cite this Entry

“Sea holly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20holly. Accessed 1 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

: a European coastal herb of the genus Eryngium (E. maritimum) that has spiny leaves and pale blue flowers and was formerly used as an aphrodisiac

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