bistort
[bis-tawrt]
- Also called snakeweed. a European plant, Polygonum bistorta, of the buckwheat family, having a twisted root, which is sometimes used as an astringent.
- any of several related plants, as P. viviparum (alpine bistort).
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Origin of bistort
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bistort
Historical Examples
The roots of bistort and tormentil, and bark of pomegranate, equal parts.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume IIArnold Cooley
From the dried root of bistort or snake-weed (Polygonum Bistorta), by percolation with temperate distilled water.
Adder's-wort, a name of snakeweed or bistort (Polygŏnum Bistorta), from its supposed virtue in curing the bite of serpents.
Bistort makes pink islands amid hay grass that waits the scythe.
LancashireLeo H. (Leo Hartley) Grindon
bistort
- Also called: snakeroot, snakeweed, Easter-ledges a Eurasian polygonaceous plant, Polygonum bistorta, having leaf stipules fused to form a tube around the stem and a spike of small pink flowers
- Also called: snakeroot a related plant, Polygonum bistortoides, of W North America, with oval clusters of pink or white flowers
- any of several other plants of the genus Polygonum
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Word Origin
C16: from French bistorte, from Latin bis twice + tortus from torquēre to twist
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