any of several North American plants, such as the blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides: family Leonticaceae) and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa: family Ranunculaceae)
Word origin
C18: probably of Algonquian origin
cohosh in American English
(ˈkouhɑʃ, kouˈhɑʃ)
noun
either of two unrelated plants of the eastern U.S., Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh), of the buttercup family, or Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh), of the barberry family, both used medicinally