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Webster 1913 Edition
Mistletoe
Mis′tle-toe
,Noun.
[AS.
misteltān
; mistel
mistletoe + tān
twig. AS. mistel
is akin of D., G., Dan. & Sw. mistel
, OHG. mistil
, Icel. mistil
teinn; and AS. tān
to D. teen
, OHG. zein
, Icel. teinn
, Goth. tains
. Cf. Missel
.] (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.