Definition of pennyroyal
1 : a European perennial mint (Mentha pulegium) with small aromatic leaves
2 : an aromatic North American mint (Hedeoma pulegioides) that has blue or violet flowers borne in axillary tufts and yields an oil used in folk medicine or to drive away mosquitoes
Origin of pennyroyal
probably alteration of Anglo-French puliol real, from puliol pennyroyal (ultimately from Latin puleium) + real royal
First Known Use: 1530
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