Illustration of comfrey
- comfrey 1
comfrey
noun
com·frey ˈkəm(p)-frē 
plural comfreys
1
: any of a genus (Symphytum) of perennial herbs of the borage family with coarse hairy entire leaves and flowers in one-sided racemes
2
: an herbal preparation of the leaves or roots of comfrey that is toxic if taken internally
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web There’s comfrey and marigold oil to make the skin heal faster. 
Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Sep. 2022 This is a variegated comfrey with outstanding yellow and green foliage. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 18 June 2022 Today, medical professionals and government agencies warn against consuming comfrey because of potential liver damage. The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Dec. 2021 The sap from comfrey stems applied to a bite eases the pain and keeps the spot from atrophying. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 2 June 2020 Claire asks Marsali to prepare a comfrey for him, and passes her the herbs. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 May 2020 It's often extracted from comfrey plants, but when added to skin-care products, it's produced synthetically in a lab, Chang adds. Devon Abelman, Allure, 20 Jan. 2020 The Equi-Clean grooming wipes are formulated with smelling herbs, including aloe vera, chamomile, comfrey, lavender and thyme. Alex Kushel, sun-sentinel.com, 20 June 2019 This oil takes things a step further, combining comfrey root extract and vitamin B5 to leave your skin feeling supple and hydrated after use (not tight and dry, like other micellar waters *cough cough*). Maya Allen, Marie Claire, 19 Feb. 2019 See More
Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Sep. 2022 This is a variegated comfrey with outstanding yellow and green foliage. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 18 June 2022 Today, medical professionals and government agencies warn against consuming comfrey because of potential liver damage. The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Dec. 2021 The sap from comfrey stems applied to a bite eases the pain and keeps the spot from atrophying. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 2 June 2020 Claire asks Marsali to prepare a comfrey for him, and passes her the herbs. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 May 2020 It's often extracted from comfrey plants, but when added to skin-care products, it's produced synthetically in a lab, Chang adds. Devon Abelman, Allure, 20 Jan. 2020 The Equi-Clean grooming wipes are formulated with smelling herbs, including aloe vera, chamomile, comfrey, lavender and thyme. Alex Kushel, sun-sentinel.com, 20 June 2019 This oil takes things a step further, combining comfrey root extract and vitamin B5 to leave your skin feeling supple and hydrated after use (not tight and dry, like other micellar waters *cough cough*). Maya Allen, Marie Claire, 19 Feb. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English cumfirie, from Anglo-French cunfirie, from Latin conferva a water plant, from confervēre to grow together (of bones), from com- + fervēre to boil — more at barm
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
- Mexican broomroot
- Mexican buckeye
- Mexican cedar
- Mexican chicken bug
- Mexican clover
- Mexican cypress
- Mexican devil-weed
- Mexican dollar
- chelydrae
- chelydras
- Chelydridae
- chelydridaes
- chelydroid
- Chelys
- Chelyuskin, Cape
- chem
- chemaka
- chemakuan
- Chemakuan
- chemakuans
- Chemakum
- chemakums
- chemawinite
- Chemehuevi
- chemehuevis