poison ivy

noun

1. a vine or shrub, Rhus radicans, having trifoliate leaves and whitish berries and causing severe dermatitis when touched by persons sensitive to it.
2. poison oak.
3. the rash caused by touching poison ivy.

poison ivy

noun

1. any of several North American anacardiaceous shrubs or vines of the genus Rhus (or Toxicodendron ), esp R. radicans, which has small green flowers and whitish berries that cause an itching rash on contact See also sumach

Word History and Origins

Origin of poison ivy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

A month later, a package arrived: two boxes filled with Poison Ivy and Batgirl!

From The Daily Beast

Leaves and flowers of the poison ivy plant were extracted with ether and the ether was removed by evaporation.

From Project Gutenberg

She will crop the poison ivy with impunity, and I think would eat thistles if she found them growing in the garden.

From Project Gutenberg

Look at the poison-ivy, but do not touch it, and you will see it climbing over tree-trunks and fence-posts by means of rootlets.

From Project Gutenberg

Aunt Katrina lived under the impression that everything that came from the woods was poison-ivy.

From Project Gutenberg

Do poison-ivy and Virginia creeper belong to the same family?

From Project Gutenberg