Dictionary

mistletoe en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈmɪzəlˌtoʊ/ (General-American)
• /ˈmɪz(ə)ltəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈmɪsəlˌtoʊ/ (General-American)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English mistelto, mistilto (“European mistletoe”), from Old English misteltān (“mistletoe”), from mistel (“mistletoe; basil; birdlime”) + tān (“sprig, shoot, twig”), possibly as a calque of Old Norse mistilteinn; equivalent to mistle + tan (“twig”). This was mistaken for the plural of tā (“toe”). Cognate with Danish mistelten (“mistletoe”), Norwegian misteltein (“mistletoe”), Icelandic mistilteinn (“mistletoe”). Compare also the simplex form West Frisian mistel (“mistletoe”), Dutch mistel (“mistletoe”), German Mistel (“mistletoe”), Swedish mistel (“mistletoe”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Any of numerous hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales with white berries that grow in the crowns of apple trees, oaks, and other trees, such as the European mistletoe (Viscum album) and American mistletoe or eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum).
   • Mistletoes were growing on the Euphorbias; they were much more succulent than when growing on woody shrubs or on trees. […] One of the Mistletoes common in Southern Africa, has small, myrtle-like leaves and red berries; another is leafless, and has stems resembling a Salicornia. 1844, James Backhouse, chapter XXX, in A Narrative of a Visit to the Mauritius and South Africa, London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., […]; York: John L. Linney, […], →OCLC, page 534:
   • Miſtletoe, by phyſicians, &c. called viſcus, grows to the height of about two feet. […] Pliny and moſt naturaliſts relate, that thruſhes being exceedingly fond of the berries of the miſtletoe; they ſwallow them, and caſt them out again on the branches of trees, where they uſe to perch; and by this means give occaſion to a new production of miſtletoe. 1738, E[phraim] Chambers, “MISTLETOE”, in Cyclopædia: Or, An Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences; […] In Two Volumes, 2nd corrected and amended edition, volumes II (L–Z), London: […] D[aniel] Midwinter [et al.], →OCLC, column 1:
   • (all obsolete or archaic)
   • The brooms caused by Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe begin as small sprays of twigs radiating from a swollen limb […] but in time they become large, more or less spherical in shape, and often with long, droopy twigs. […] Although the parasite is present throughout each broom, the only visible portions of dwarf mistletoe are the reproductive shoots which are called "aerial shoots." 1985 May, Robert O. Tinnin, Donald M. Knutson, “Types of Dwarf Mistletoe Brooms”, in How to Identify Brooms in Douglas-fir Caused by Dwarf Mistletoe (United States Department of Agriculture Research Note; PNW 426), [Portland, Or.?]: Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, →OCLC, page 2:
   • In Martigny I first observed the custom, common throughout many parts of Switzerland, of hanging mistletoes over the house doors; a superstition for which I have not been able to get any reason rendered. 1833 February, Robert Mallet, Jun., “Art. IV. Horticultural Jottanda of a Recent Continental Tour.”, in J[ohn] C[laudius] Loudon, editor, The Gardener’s Magazine, and Register of Rural & Domestic Improvement, volume IX, number 42, London: Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, […], →OCLC, page 27:
   • [T]he stickiness [of mistletoe berries] persists through the gut, making it hard to defecate mistletoe seeds with any grace. To deal with this, birds like the silky flycatcher, Phainopepla nitens, that are mistletoe specialists, have evolved a "waggle dance" – also known as butt-wiping behavior – where they clean up by rubbing themselves against twigs. Indeed, the association with bird droppings may even be the origin of the word: Some evidence suggests that "mistletoe" comes from Anglo-Saxon for "dung on a twig." 2014 December 23, Olivia Judson, “The hemiparasite season [print version: Under the hemiparasite, International New York Times, 24–25 December 2014, page 7]”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 23 Dec 2014:
2. (uncountable) A sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration, associated with the custom that a man may kiss any woman standing beneath it.
   • There were ruddy, brown-faced, broad-girthed Spanish Onions, shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars; and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the girls as they went by, and glanced demurely at the hung-up mistletoe. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, pages 81–82:
   • Rockin' around the Christmas tree / At the Christmas party hop / Mistletoe hung where you can see / Every couple tries to stop 1958, Johnny Marks, “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree”, in Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee, performed by Brenda Lee:
   • Mistletoe. The word conjures winter holidays, office parties, stolen kisses, romance. But appreciation of the plant is no modern thing. Kissing under the mistletoe has been happening for at least 200 years. And some 2,000 years ago, the druids in which is now Britain venerated the plant when it grew on an oak. When they found it, they dressed in white, harvested it with a golden sickle, and sacrificed two white bulls. 2014 December 23, Olivia Judson, “The hemiparasite season [print version: Under the hemiparasite, International New York Times, 24–25 December 2014, page 7]”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 23 Dec 2014:
   • Miſtletoe! why I know what that is, as we garniſh our Houſe with it every Year, at Chriſtmas. 1782, Benjamin Martin, “Dialogue VI. Reflections on the Wonderful Nature, and Singular Properties of Some Kinds of Plants, Shrubs, and Trees; Exemplified in Missltoe,^([sic]) Sensitive Plant, Bulbous Garlic, Bee-orchis, and Egg-plant.”, in The Young Gentleman and Lady’s Philosophy in a Continued Survey of the Works of Nature and Art; by Way of Dialogue, volumes III, part IV (Containing a General Survey of Vegetation and Vegetables), London: Printed for W. Owen, […]; and the author, […], →OCLC, page 229:
   • Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe / Help to make the season bright / Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow / Will find it hard to sleep tonight 1946 November, Robert Wells, Mel Tormé, “The Christmas Song”, performed by Nat King Cole:

Forms

Deriveds

true mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · cactus mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · jointed mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · Old World mistleoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · showy mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe borer (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe tyrannulet (Terms derived from mistletoe) · European mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · incense-cedar mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · harlequin mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mahogany mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · native mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe cactus (Terms derived from mistletoe) · grey mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · hairy mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · common mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe thrush (Terms derived from mistletoe) · box mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · apostle mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · red-berry mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · red mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · northern mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · fir mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · crimson mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · round-leaf mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · Christmas mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · long-flowered mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe fig (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe bird (Terms derived from mistletoe) · feathery mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · Cape mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · Dendrophthoe vitellina) (Terms derived from mistletoe) · desert mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · orange mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · bigleaf mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · drooping mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · oak mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · American mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe stem borer (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoe flowerpecker (Terms derived from mistletoe) · eastern mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoebird (Terms derived from mistletoe) · fleshy mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mistletoed (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mesquite mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · mulberry mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · Australian native mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · scaly mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · rough mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · sycamore mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · leafy mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · dwarf mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · false mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · Pacific mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · juniper mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe) · dense mistletoe (Terms derived from mistletoe)

Relateds

viscotoxin · mistle thrush · viscivorus · viscin

Synonyms

miseleden · misselden · misseldine

Translations (116)

fi mistelinoksa (sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration) · gv geul (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · fy mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ga drualus (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · gd uil-ìoc (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ar دِبْق (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · bg име́л (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ru оме́ла (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pt erva-de-passarinho (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · enm mistelto (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · de Mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ha kauci (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pl jemioła (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · tyz hán fặc (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · he דִּבְקוֹן (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sco messeldeu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pl jemioła (sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration) · ro vâsc (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · es visco (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · vec viscio (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · tyz phác (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pt visco (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · mi kohuorangi (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · lv āmuļi (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · tyz lằng ca (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · da mistelten (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · rup vãscu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · cs jmelí (sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration) · et puuvõõrik (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · rup vescu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · lt amalas (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · an visco (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ja 宿木 (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · tl ligas (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · es liga (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · gl maroxo (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · be амяла́ (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · oc vesc (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · vi tầm gửi (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · el γκι (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · grc ἰξός (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · chr ᏲᏓᏟ (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · cs jmelí (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ang misteltān (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · an vizco (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · az öksəotu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · mk имела (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · chl cháyal (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · az öksə (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ast marfueyu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · hy ճագոմ (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ady агъо (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · mi pirinoa (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · yue 槲寄生 (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pdt Kusskjriekje (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ar نَبَات طُفَيْلِيّ (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · kw ughelvarr (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sc viscu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · am ተቀጥላ (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · unm muxkòtae (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · el ιξός (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · enm mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sv mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · af mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · lb Mëspel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · nn misteltein (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · an visca (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sh имѐла (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ka ფითრი (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · fa دارواش (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ast arfueyu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · hu fagyöngy (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · co vischju (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · fur visc (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · nl maretak (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · mi pirirangi (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · af maretak (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · nb misteltein (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · gl visgo (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ca vesc (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sk imelo (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sv mistel (sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration) · kld baan (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · nl vogellijm (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sh imèla (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ang mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sl omela (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · eu mihura (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sh imela (sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration) · cim vistscho (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · it vischio (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · fo mistilteinur (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · ko 겨우살이 (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sq veshtull (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · fr gui (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · tr ökse otu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · hsb jemjel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · uk омела (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · sc biscu (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · dsb jemjelica (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · eo visko (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · cy uchelwydd (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · is mistilteinn (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · fi misteli (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · nl mistel (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · eo blanka visko (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · la viscum (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · my ကျီးပေါင်း (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pdt Mistelplaunt (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · non mistilteinn (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · es muérdago (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · nv dahtsʼaaʼ (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · io mistelo (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · kbd жыгкугъу (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · cmn 槲寄生 (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales) · pt visgo (any of several hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales)