Meaning

noun a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests

noun aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities

originFrom Middle English herbe, erbe, from Old French erbe (French herbe), from Latin herba. Initial h was restored to the spelling in the 15th century on the basis of Latin, but it remained mute until the 19th century and still is for many speakers. Doublet of yerba.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0