Lexic.us

Definition of Mistletoe

1. Noun. American plants closely resembling Old World mistletoe.

2. Noun. Old World parasitic shrub having branching greenish stems with leathery leaves and waxy white glutinous berries; the traditional mistletoe of Christmas.

3. Noun. Shrub of central and southeastern Europe; partially parasitic on beeches, chestnuts and oaks.

Definition of Mistletoe

1. n. 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.

Definition of Mistletoe

1. Noun. Any of several parasitic evergreen plants with white berries that grow in the crowns of oaks, apple trees and other trees. ¹

2. Noun. A sprig of these plants used as a Christmas decoration. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Mistletoe

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Mistletoe

1. 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. Alternative forms: misletoe, misseltoe, and mistleto. 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. Origin: AS. Misteltan; mistel mistletoe + tan twig. AS. Mistel is akin of D, G, Dan. & Sw. Mistel, OHG. Mistil, Icel. Mistilteinn; and AS. Tan to D. Teen, OHG. Zein, Icel. Teinn, Goth. Tains. Cf. Missel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Mistletoe

mistinesses misting mistings mistion mistions mistitle mistitled mistitles mistitling mistle

mistle-toe mistle thrush mistled mistles mistless mistletoe (current term) mistletoe cactus mistletoe family mistletoe fig mistletoe rubber plant

mistletoe thrush mistletoebird mistletoebirds mistletoed mistletoes mistlike mistling mistold mistonusk mistook

Literary usage of Mistletoe

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics by Frank G. Hawksworth, Delbert Wiens (1998)
"Porcupines definitely feed on dwarf mistletoe shoots (see below), but we question the importance their role as an effective vector because (1) outer twigs ..."

2. The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion by James George Frazer (1900)
"The inference is almost inevitable that the Golden Bough was nothing but the mistletoe seen through the haze of poetry or of popular superstition. ..."

3. The Natural History of Plants: Their Forms, Growth, Reproduction, and by Anton Kerner von Marilaun (1902)
"The root-system of the mistletoe taken as a whole may be described as like ... Whilst the roots of the mistletoe-plant are spreading in the interior of the ..."

4. The Shakespeare Garden by Esther Singleton (1922)
"The mistletoe, the "all-healer," is a mysterious and mystical plant. ... Other priests stood below holding a white cloth to receive the mistletoe as it fell ..."

5. Manual of Tree Diseases by William Howard Rankin (1918)
"On the other hand in regions of light rainfall, variable temperature, low humidity, dry soil and especially in open stands, the growth of the mistletoe is ..."

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