witch hazel

See also: witch-hazel

English

Alternative forms

  • 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”).

Noun

witch hazel (countable and uncountable, plural witch hazels)

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

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See also

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