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bugloss (BUG-laws) - n., any of several herbaceous plants of the borage family (especially genera Anchusa, Brunnera, and Echium) with blue or violet flowers.
Common bugloss is Anchusa officinalis. The word has nothing whatsoever with being an insect repellent, though some buglosses have been used medicinally for other purposes -- adopted in the 14th century as buglossa from Latin būglōssos, from Greek bouglōssos, referring specifically to Anchusa officinalis, from bous, ox + glosson, tongue -- because the hairy leaves were thought to resemble the cow tongues. I can only assume the texture is meant there, as the leaves are small.
---L.
Common bugloss is Anchusa officinalis. The word has nothing whatsoever with being an insect repellent, though some buglosses have been used medicinally for other purposes -- adopted in the 14th century as buglossa from Latin būglōssos, from Greek bouglōssos, referring specifically to Anchusa officinalis, from bous, ox + glosson, tongue -- because the hairy leaves were thought to resemble the cow tongues. I can only assume the texture is meant there, as the leaves are small.
---L.
