Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MAL-LOW, or MAL-LOWS, n. [Sax. malu, mealwe, malwe, Fr. mauve; L. Sp. and It. malva; Gr. μαλαχη, from μαλακος, soft, Eng. mellow; W. mall. See Malady.]

A plant of the genus Malva; so called from its emollient qualities. Marsh-mallows, a plant of the genus Althæa.