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mistletoe
6 dictionary results for: Mistletoe
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
mis·tle·toe 
[mis-uhl-toh] Pronunciation Key
[mis-uhl-toh] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | a European plant, Viscum album, having yellowish flowers and white berries, growing parasitically on various trees, used in Christmas decorations. |
| 2. | any of several other related, similar plants, as Phoradendron serotinum, of the U.S.: the state flower of Oklahoma. |
[Origin: bef. 1000; ME mistelto, appar. back formation from OE misteltān (mistel mistletoe, basil + tān twig), the -n being taken as pl. ending; c. ON mistilteinn]
]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
mis·tle·toe
(mĭs'əl-tō') Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) n.
[Middle English mistelto, back-formation from Old English misteltān (tān, taken for pl. of tā, toe) : mistel, mistletoe; see meigh- in Indo-European roots + tān, twig.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
mistletoe
mistletoe
O.E. mistiltan, from mistel "mistletoe" + tan "twig." First element is from P.Gmc. *mikhstilaz (cf. O.H.G. mistil). Venerated by the Druids; the custom of hanging it at Christmas and kissing under it is mentioned by Washington Irving.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| mistletoe | |
noun | |
| 1. | American plants closely resembling Old World mistletoe |
| 2. | Old World parasitic shrub having branching greenish stems with leathery leaves and waxy white glutinous berries; the traditional mistletoe of Christmas |
| 3. | shrub of central and southeastern Europe; partially parasitic on beeches, chestnuts and oaks |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This
Mistletoe, KY Zip code(s): 41351
U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Mistletoe
Mis"tle*toe\, n. [AS. mistelt[=a]n; mistel mistletoe + t[=a]n twig. AS. mistel is akin of D., G., Dan. & Sw. mistel, OHG. mistil, Icel. mistilteinn; and AS. t[=a]n to D. teen, OHG. zein, Icel. teinn, Goth. tains. Cf. Missel.] (Bot.) A parasitic evergreen plant of Europe (Viscum album), bearing a glutinous fruit. When found upon the oak, where it is rare, it was an object of superstitious regard among the Druids. A bird lime is prepared from its fruit. [Written also misletoe, misseltoe, and mistleto.] --Lindley. Loudon. Note: The mistletoe of the United States is Phoradendron flavescens, having broader leaves than the European kind. In different regions various similar plants are called by this name.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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