bistort

[ bis-tawrt ]

/ ˈbɪs tɔrt /

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noun

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

First recorded in 1570–80, bistort is from the Medieval Latin word bistorta twice twisted. See bis¹, tort

Words nearby bistort

bist, bistable, bistate, bister, Bisto, bistort, bistoury, bistre, bistro, bisulcate, bisulfate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bistort in a sentence

Ser′pent-fish, the snake-fish; Ser′pent-grass, the alpine bistort.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
The roots of bistort and tormentil, and bark of pomegranate, equal parts.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II|Arnold Cooley
From the dried root of bistort or snake-weed (Polygonum Bistorta), by percolation with temperate distilled water.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley
Bistort makes pink islands amid hay grass that waits the scythe.
Lancashire|Leo H. (Leo Hartley) Grindon

Viviparous Bistort (Polygonum viviparum) grew hereabouts two spans in height.
Lachesis Lapponica|Carl von Linn

British Dictionary definitions for bistort

bistort

/ (ˈbɪstɔːt) /

noun

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

Word Origin for bistort

C16: from French bistorte, from Latin bis twice + tortus from torquēre to twist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012