mullein
UK[ˈmʌlɪn]US[ˈmʌlən]
n
A tall plant with woolly leaves and yellow flowers, often growing on waste ground.
Etymology
The word 'mullein' entered English in the late 14th century from the Anglo-French 'moleine', which itself derived from the Old French 'mol'. This Old French term likely originated from the Latin 'mollis', meaning 'soft', in reference to the plant's characteristically soft, woolly leaves. The journey from the Latin adjective for 'soft' to the modern plant name illustrates a common pattern where a prominent physical characteristic becomes the defining name for the organism. The spelling stabilized to 'mullein' in Modern English, solidifying the connection to this distinctive, velvety-leaved herb.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form were adapted as a whole from French.
Examples
The common mullein is easily identified by its tall spike of yellow flowers and its large, fuzzy leaves.
Herbalists have traditionally used mullein for its purported benefits in soothing respiratory ailments.
We saw several mullein plants growing in the dry, rocky field by the roadside.