mallow

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: mal=low

CIDE DICTIONARY

mallow, n. [OE. malwe, AS. mealwe, fr. L. malva, akin to Gr. mala`chh; cf. mala`ssein to soften, malako`s soft. Named either from its softening or relaxing properties, or from its soft downy leaves. Cf. Mauve, Malachite.].

 A genus of plants (Malva) having mucilaginous qualities. See Malvaceous.  [1913 Webster]
" The flowers of the common mallow (Malva sylvestris) are used in medicine. The dwarf mallow (Malva rotundifolia) is a common weed, and its flattened, dick-shaped fruits are called cheeses by children. Tree mallow (Malva Mauritiana and Lavatera arborea), musk mallow (Malva moschata), rose mallow or hollyhock, and curled mallow (Malva crispa), are less commonly seen."  [1913 Webster]

Indian mallow. See Abutilon. -- Jew's mallow, a plant (Corchorus olitorius) used as a pot herb by the Jews of Egypt and Syria. -- Marsh mallow. See under Marsh.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

mallow, n.
1 any plant of the genus Malva, esp. M. sylvestris, with hairy stems and leaves and pink or purple flowers.
2 any of several other plants of the family Malvaceae, including marsh mallow and tree mallow.

Etymology

OE meal(u)we f. L malva