hollyhock

Meaning

Any of several flowering plants of the genus Alcea in the Malvaceae family.

Synonyms

althea

althaea

marsh mallow

white mallow

holly hock

Translations

rose trémière

malvone

Stockrose

malvarosa

gülhatmi

malva real

Stockmalve

malvarrosa

malva loca

Herbstrose

malva rósea

stokroos

Rosenmalve

Malve

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɑlihɑk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: holihocke

Inherited from Old English: hoc

In summary

From Middle English holihocke, holyhokke, holihoc, from holi (“holy”) + hocke, hokke, hoc (“mallow”) (from Old English hoc (“marsh mallow”). The modern hollyhock was probably unknown in England until the 15th century, so usage before then no doubt referred to some other mallow.
Apparently so called for being brought from the Holy Land; compare an old name for it in Medieval Latin cauli Sancti Cuthberti (“St. Cuthbert's cole”).