woodruff Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun Old World fragrant stoloniferous perennial having small white flowers and narrow leaves used as flavoring and in sachets; widely cultivated as a ground cover; in some classifications placed in genus Asperula
    waldmeister; sweet woodruff; Asperula odorata; fragrant bedstraw; Galium odoratum.
  2. noun any plant of the genus Asperula

WordNet

Wood"ruff`, Wood"roof` noun (Also<
  • Woodruff
  • Woodroof
)
Etymology
AS. wudurofe. See Wood, n., and cf. Ruff a plaited collar.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A little European herb (Asperula odorata) having a pleasant taste. It is sometimes used for flavoring wine. See Illust. of Whorl.

Webster 1913