English

fleawort

From flea + wort.

A compound of flea + wort

Proto-Germanic *flauhaz

Proto-West Germanic *flauh

Old English flēah

Middle English fle

English flea

Proto-Indo-European *wréh₂ds ‘a root’

Proto-Germanic *wrōts ‘a root’

Proto-West Germanic *wurti ‘a root’

Old English wyrt ‘a plant’

Middle English wort ‘any herb or plant’

English wort

Today it means

noun Any of various not closely related plants that are supposed to kill or ward off fleas.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / fleawort