woodruff

noun

wood·​ruff ˈwu̇d-(ˌ)rəf 

1

: any of a genus (Asperula) of Old World herbs of the madder family

2

: sweet woodruff

Examples of woodruff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 30-seat dining room offers dishes like king crab with pork cheeks and caramelized Belle de Boskoop apple with milk and woodruff, and the 15 sunlit guest rooms have locally handmade beds and glass sculptures by Ellen Ehk and Markus Åkesson. —New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024

Sweet woodruff spreads slowly, to form an easy-care groundcover. —Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022

Rather than relying on after-the-fact syrups, their Waldmeister is conditioned on woodruff, while the Himbeer is fermented with raspberries. —Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2021

Then, there's a popsicle made of woodruff, coriander, Spanish chervil and sorrel. —Suzannah Weiss, Teen Vogue, 13 Mar. 2018

Created by stonemason Eddie Foisy, a circular walkway takes you to a miniature medieval castle surrounded by fairy portals, a magic diorama enveloped in a bank of lush hosta, ferns and sweet woodruff. —Mary Ellen Fillo, courant.com, 17 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English woderove, from Old English wudurofe, from wudu wood + -rofe (of unknown origin)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing woodruff

• sweet woodruff