woad

American  

[wohd] / woʊd /

noun

1. a European plant, Isatis tinctoria, of the mustard family, formerly cultivated for a blue dye extracted from its leaves.

2. the dye extracted from this plant.

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woad British  

/ wəʊd /

noun

1. a European plant, Isatis tinctoria, formerly cultivated for its leaves, which yield a blue dye: family Brassicaceae (crucifers) See also dyer's-weed dyer's rocket

2. the dye obtained from this plant, used esp by the ancient Britons, as a body dye

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Etymology

Origin of woad

before 1000; Middle English wode, Old English wād (cognate with German Waid ); akin to French guède, Medieval Latin waizda < Germanic

Example Sentences

Rising English star Woad, meanwhile, who only turned professional last year after claiming a third place finish at the Evian Championship as an amateur, drained four birdies with only one bogey in her three-under-par 69.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

The 28-year-old three-time major winner was joined at the top of the leaderboard by England's Lottie Woad, who followed up her opening 67 with a three-under-par 69.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Chanettee had seven birdies and two bogeys and Woad had six birdies before her lone bogey at the 18th dropped her out of the lead.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

England's Lottie Woad looked on course to post a similar score to Yamashita in her second round before a triple-bogey seven on the par-four 16th halted her progress.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025

It may bring downe the price of Woad and of Anile.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 05 Central and Southern Europe by Hakluyt, Richard