English Explanatory Dictionary

witch hazel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several small deciduous trees, of the genus Hamamelis, having yellow flowers
  2. Hamamelis virginiana (eastern North America)
  3. Hamamelis vernalis (Ozarks).
  4. An extract of the bark and/or leaves of this plant, used as an astringent
  5. A wych-elm, or a certain subspecies of it distinguished from wych-elm.
  6. hornbeam, Carpinus betulus

Word forms

witch hazel witch hazels witch-hazel wych-hazel wych-hasel wych hazel witch-hasel wych hasel witch hasel witch-hasell wych-hasell witch-hazell wych-hazell

Etymology

See Middle English wiche, from Old English wiċe (“wych elm or rowan”), perhaps derived from the root of wīcan (“to give way”). Folk etymology refers to use by witches and other sorcerers of folkish magic using the plant in potions; however, compare German Zaubernuss (“witch hazel”, literally “magic nut”).

Synonyms

American witch hazel

Related words

Hamamelis

Derived words

witch-hazel cone gall aphid

Translations

Cherokee: ᎤᏂᎩᎾ Dutch: toverhazelaar Finnish: taikapähkinä German: Zaubernuss Polish: oczar Romanian: hamamelis Swedish: trollhassel Turkish: acı fındık Welsh: collen ystwyth
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