Horehound is a bitter herb used in Appalachian and Southern folk medicine, most often made into cough drops or old-fashioned candy. Many folks remember horehound candy as one of the few sweets found in country stores.
We had 'horehound candy growin' up - and I still get it sometimes.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We had 'horehound candy growin' up - and I still get it sometimes.
Pronunciation
[HOR-hound] or [HOAR-hound]
Meaning & Usage
- A medicinal herb (noun)
In folk medicine
Mae:
What’s that bag for?
Earl:
Dried horehound - folks use it for coughs.
- An old-fashioned candy (noun, cultural sense)
At the store
Mae:
Ain’t much candy left?
Earl:
Just them horehound sticks.
variations: horehound candy, horehound drops
★ Horehound candy was often bought at general stores when nothing sweeter was around. Kids didn’t always like the taste, but it was candy - and that was enough. ★
Origin and Etymology
Horehound is a bitter mint-family herb (Marrubium vulgare) used since ancient times. Appalachian and Southern families boiled it into syrups, drops, or candy as both a treat and a remedy.
Usage Notes
Strong in Appalachian and Southern memory - tied to both medicine and old-time country stores. Today, horehound candy is sold as a nostalgic sweet in some specialty shops.
Because horehound grew easy, and candy makers turned it into cough drops sold in country stores.
Do people still eat horehound candy?
Yes, but mostly as a nostalgic treat - not an everyday sweet.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 4). Horehound. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/horehound
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Horehound." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/horehound.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Horehound." HillbillySlang.com. September 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/horehound.
Most Popular
Latest Accents
Latest Sayings
Latest Slang
Latest Southernish
About
Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
We had 'horehound candy growin' up - and I still get it sometimes.