# yarrow

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈjæɹəʊ/ · frequency rank #51,513

## Definitions
1. Any of several pungent Eurasian and North American herbs, of the genus Achillea, used in traditional herbal medicine.
2. Common yarrow, Achillea millefolium, the type species of the genus.

## Etymology
From Middle English ȝarowe, yarowe, yarwe, from Old English ġearwe, from Proto-West Germanic *garwā (“yarrow, yarrow-like herbs”), perhaps derived from *garu (“prepared, ready (of food)”), as the plant was used medicinally for digestion.
Cognate with Dutch gerw (“yarrow”) and German (Schaf-)garbe.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/yarrow