English

ironweed

From iron + weed.

A compound of iron + weed

Proto-Celtic *īsarnom

…

Proto-West Germanic *īsarn

Old English īsern ‘the metal iron’

Old English īren

Middle English iren ‘iron’

English iron

Proto-West Germanic *weud

Old English wēod

Middle English weed

English weed

Today it means

noun Any of certain species of the genus Vernonia of forbs and shrubs.

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

Etymograph / ironweed