Mistletoe meaning
Any of various semiparasitic plants of the order Santalales that grow on the branches of other plants, especially Viscum album of Eurasia and Phoradendron leucarpum of North America, both of which have leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries. Extracts of the Eurasian species are sometimes used for medicinal purposes.
noun
A sprig of mistletoe, often used as a Christmas decoration.
noun
Any of various evergreen plants (genera Phoradendron and Viscum) of the mistletoe family, parasitic on deciduous or evergreen trees, with small, yellowish-green leaves, yellowish flowers, and shiny, white, poisonous berries.
noun
A sprig of such a plant, hung as a Christmas decoration: by custom, people kiss when standing under it.
noun
Designating a family (Loranthaceae, order Santalales) of parasitic, dicotyledonous shrubs and small trees.
adjective
Advertisement
Any of various hemiparasitic plants of the order Santalales that grow on the branches of other plants, especially Viscum album of Eurasia and Phoradendron leucarpum of North America, both of which have leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries. Extracts of the Eurasian species are sometimes used for medicinal purposes.
noun
Origin of mistletoe
- Middle English mistelto back-formation from Old English misteltān (tān) (taken for pl. of tā toe) mistel mistletoe meigh- in Indo-European roots tān twig
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Old English misteltÄn, from mistel "˜mistletoe' + tÄn "˜twig'. Compare mistle.
From Wiktionary