mistletoe

[mis-uhl-toh]

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.

mistletoe

/ ˈmɪsəlˌtəʊ /

noun

1. a Eurasian evergreen shrub, Viscum album, with leathery leaves, yellowish flowers, and waxy white berries: grows as a partial parasite on various trees: used as a Christmas decoration: family Viscaceae

2. any of several similar and related American plants in the families Loranthaceae or Viscaceae , esp Phoradendron flavescens

3. an epiphytic cactus, Rhipsalis cassytha, that grows in tropical America

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistletoe¹

before 1000; Middle English mistelto, apparently back formation from Old English misteltān ( mistel mistletoe, basil + tān twig), the -n being taken as plural ending; cognate with Old Norse mistilteinn

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistletoe¹

Old English misteltān, from mistel mistletoe + tān twig; related to Old Norse mistilteinn

Example Sentences

There's also what appears to be a bunch of grapes, but archaeobotanists believe that this is a plant that grows locally - mistletoe.

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"The claimed similarities are an unprotectable jumble of elements: A title and hook phrase used by many earlier Christmas songs, other commonplace words, phrases, and Christmas tropes like 'Santa Claus' and 'mistletoe'," they wrote.

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A decorated tree and sleigh greeted guests at the entrance to the country house which had holly, ivy, mistletoe and lanterns hung throughout.

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The goal was identifying the moments that viewers expect from Hallmark’s pleasingly formulaic programming — the apology, the kiss under the mistletoe — and finding a way to “gamify” them, Bennett says.

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Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts, said the Christmas number one race was "as important to the festive season as Christmas trees, mistletoe and mulled wine".

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