pennyroyal

noun

1. Mentha pulegium, a plant of the mint family, formerly much used in various medicinal treatments and as a flea repellent.

   “Dioscorides says that Pennyroyal makes thin, tough phlegm, warms the coldness of any part whereto it is applied, and digests raw or corrupt matter.”

   “I'm on warm milk and laxatives / Cherry-flavored antacids / Sit and drink Pennyroyal tea / Distill the life that's inside of me / Sit and drink Pennyroyal tea / I'm anemic royalty”

2. (obsolete)A traditional old well-known song, especially a spiritual folksong.

   “Offenbach and the old college airs, song and dance tunes and pennyroyals, formed the staples for the introduction of hits on manners and times.”

   “The singing in the schoolhouse was more like that of one of the old-fashioned, large Yankee families gathered round the hearthstone and singing "pennyroyals" Sunday nights.”

   “The sort of tune […] variously denominated "gospel song", "spiritual song", "pennyroyal",”

   “However, three or four of the old "pennyroyals" seem to have stood the test of time.”

   “Asking his subscribers to send him "old pennyroyal tunes" and "popular airs," he received many contributions from unknown personages, such as "a Shermantown friend," a "Mr. A. V. Parker," a "Mr. R. H. Williams" of Westmoreland, and a "Brother Robbins."”

name

1. A locality in the Shire of Colac Otway and the Surf Coast Shire, south western Victoria, Australia