|penē|rȯi(y)əl, -nə̇|-, -ȯil, dial |penə|rīl noun
Etymology: probably by folk etymology (influence of pennywort and royal ) from Middle French poullieul, poliol, modification of Latin puleium, pulegium fleabane, fleawort, pennyroyal
1. : a European perennial mint ( Mentha pulegium ) with small pungently aromatic leaves
2. : a plant of the genus Hedeoma ; especially : an erect hairy branching American herb ( H. pulegioides ) that yields an essential oil and is sometimes used in folk medicine as an emmenagogue and diaphoretic — called also American pennyroyal ; see pennyroyal oil
3. : any of several western No. American aromatic herbs of the genus Monardella ; especially : an herb ( M. villosa ) of California