mistletoe Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun American plants closely resembling Old World mistletoe
    false mistletoe.
  2. noun Old World parasitic shrub having branching greenish stems with leathery leaves and waxy white glutinous berries; the traditional mistletoe of Christmas
    Old World mistletoe; Viscum album.
  3. noun shrub of central and southeastern Europe; partially parasitic on beeches, chestnuts and oaks
    Loranthus europaeus.

WordNet

Mis"tle*toe noun
Etymology
AS. misteltan; mistel mistletoe + tan twig. AS. mistel is akin of D., G., Dan. & Sw. mistel, OHG. mistil, Icel. mistilteinn; and AS. tan to D. teen, OHG. zein, Icel. teinn, Goth. tains. Cf. Missel.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A parasitic evergreen plant of Europe (Viscum album), bearing a glutinous fruit. When found upon the oak, where it is rare, it was an object of superstitious regard among the Druids. A bird lime is prepared from its fruit. Written also misletoe, misseltoe, and mistleto. Lindley. Loudon. ✍ The mistletoe of the United States is Phoradendron flavescens, having broader leaves than the European kind. In different regions various similar plants are called by this name.

Webster 1913