wood sorrel

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Oxalis, especially O. acetosella, of Eurasia, having heart-shaped, trifoliolate leaves and white, pink-veined flowers.

wood sorrel

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Oxalis acetosella, having trifoliate leaves, an underground creeping stem, and white purple-veined flowers: family Oxalidaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of wood sorrel¹

1515–25; translation of French sorrel de bois; replacing woodsour, so called from sour taste of the leaves

Example Sentences

The violet wood-sorrel is, however, the beauty of the family, and rare enough to require being searched for.

From Project Gutenberg

George and Lettie crushed the veined belles of wood-sorrel and broke the silken mosses.

From Project Gutenberg

He found the wood-sorrel, he measured the crosiers of the brake, and saw the blue mist of the hyacinth carpet the glades.

From Project Gutenberg

Another tiny flower is very much like mother's treasured pink oxalis; but is only the bloom of wood sorrel.

From Project Gutenberg

Wood-sorrel lifts its delicate veined petals; the leaf is rounded like the shadow of a bubble on a stone under clear water.

From Project Gutenberg