See Also: mistletoe(medicine)
mistletoe(dictionary)
mistletoe(encyclopedia)
mistletoe(dictionary)

mistletoe (iou)



mistletoe noun.
[Old English misteltan (= Old Norse mistilteinn), formed as MISTLE + tan twig (= Dutch teen withe, Old High German zein rod, Old Norse teinn twig, spit).]
A European plant, Viscum album (family Viscaceae), which is parasitic on various trees (esp. apple and poplar), bears white glutinous berries, and is used in Christmas decorations. Also (in full American mistletoe), any of several N. American parasitic plants of the related genus Phoradendron, esp. P. serotinum.
W. Irving The mistle-toe is still hung up in farm-houses..at Christmas.
Comb.: mistletoe bird Austral. a small black, white, and crimson flower-pecker, Dicaeum hirundinaceum; mistletoe cactus any of various cacti of the mainly tropical American genus Rhipsalis, esp. R. baccifera, with white fruits resembling those of mistletoe.