Originating from the Latin #0excludeGlossary meaning grass or green crops, the word #1excludeGlossary has undergone significant transformation over the centuries. Initially, it described any plant used for culinary or medicinal purposes. As it journeyed through Old French as #2excludeGlossary and into Middle English as “herbe,” its meaning broadened. In modern times, particularly within the cannabis community, “herb” has become a beloved term for marijuana. This evolution highlights the plant’s integral role in both traditional herbal medicine and contemporary cannabis culture. Today, “herb” is synonymous with cannabis, celebrated for its therapeutic properties and recreational use. As the cannabis industry expands, the term #6excludeGlossary continues to resonate with those who appreciate the plant’s natural benefits and cultural significance. Whether used in conversation or in the latest cannabis trends, “herb” embodies a connection to nature and a nod to the plant’s enduring legacy. [Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, Etymonline]
Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distinguishes herbs from spices. Herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits.
Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, aromatic and in some cases, spiritual. General usage of the term "herb" differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs; in medicinal or spiritual use, any parts of the plant might be considered "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), resin and pericarp.
The word "herb" is pronounced /hɜːrb/ in Commonwealth English, but /ɜːrb/ is standard among American English speakers as well as those from regions where h-dropping occurs. In Canadian English, both pronunciations are common. In botany, the noun "herb" refers to a "plant that does not produce a woody stem", and the adjective "herbaceous" means "herb-like", referring to parts of the plant that are green and soft in texture".
"What is a herb?" "The friend of physicians and the praise of cooks."
English
Etymology
From Middle English herbe, erbe, from Old French erbe (French herbe), from Latin herba. Initial h was restored to the spelling in the 15th century on the basis of Latin, but it remained mute until the 19th century and still is for many speakers. Doublet of yerba.
Pronunciation
- (UK, General Australian, New Zealand) enPR: hû(r)b, IPA(key): /hɜːb/
- (US, Canada) enPR: (h)ûrb, IPA(key): /(h)ɝb/
- North American pronunciation of the word varies; some speakers include the /h/ sound and others
