Dictionary

witch hazel en · NOUN

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”).

Meanings

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

Forms

Deriveds

witch-hazel cone gall aphid

Synonyms

American witch hazel

Translations (18)

de virginische Zaubernuss (Hamamelis virginiana) · tr acı fındık (Hamamelis virginiana) · sv trollhassel (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · ga coll Virginiach (Hamamelis virginiana) · chr ᎦᎾᏑᏛᎶ (Hamamelis virginiana) · de herbstblühende Zaubernuss (Hamamelis virginiana) · fr café du diable (Hamamelis virginiana) · de Zaubernuss (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · pl oczar wiosenny (Hamamelis vernalis) · fi taikapähkinä (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · ro hamamelis (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · nl toverhazelaar (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · cy collen ystwyth (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · chr ᎤᏂᎩᎾ (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · tr acı fındık (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · pl oczar (tree of the genus Hamamelis) · pl oczar wirginijski (Hamamelis virginiana) · bg вирджински орех (Hamamelis virginiana)