goldthread

American  

[gohld-thred] / ˈgoʊldˌθrɛd /

noun

1. a white-flowered plant, Coptis trifolia, of the buttercup family, having a slender, yellow root that is sometimes used as a tonic.

---

goldthread British  

/ ˈɡəʊldˌθrɛd /

noun

1. a North American woodland ranunculaceous plant, Coptis trifolia (or C. groenlandica ), with slender yellow roots

2. the root of this plant, which yields a medicinal tonic and a dye

---

Etymology

Origin of goldthread

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; gold + thread

Example Sentences

Workers here sort through tons of waste in search of recyclable scraps and toil in workshops sewing goldthread embroidery to ornament fancy clothes.

From Washington Post

The circles on the left represent the organisms that contributed genes to the bioengineered yeast: California poppy, rat, goldthread, bacteria, and opium poppy.

From The Verge

Catherine took many long jaunts to gather her herbs—thoroughwort, goldthread, catnip, comfrey, skullcap, pennyroyal, lobelia, peppermint, old-man's-root, snakehead and others of greater or less medicinal value.

From Project Gutenberg

But they knew where thoroughwort grows, and the wholesome goldthread; they gathered cress and peppermint, and could tell the mushroom from its noisome kindred.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of its kin dwell in bogs and wet places, but this plant and the shin-leaf carpet drier woodland where dwarf cornels, partridge vines, pipsissewa, and goldthread weave their charming patterns too.

From Project Gutenberg