| witch hazel | <botany> A genus of plants which includes the witch-hazel (Hamamelis Virginica), a preparation of which is used medicinally. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. A kind of medlar or service tree; at the same time + an apple, any tree fruit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| witch-hazel | <botany> The wych-elm. An American shrub or small tree (Hamamelis Virginica), which blossoms late in autumn. See: Wych-elm, and Hazel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Munsell, Hazel | <person> U.S. Chemist, *1891. See: Sherman-Munsell unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| wych-hazel | <botany> The wych-elm; so called because its leaves are like those of the hazel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| hazel | 1. Consisting of hazels, or of the wood of the hazel; pertaining to, or derived from, the hazel; as, a hazel wand. "I sit me down beside the hazel grove." (Keble) 2. Of a light brown colour, like the hazelnut. "Thou hast hazel eyes." 3. <botany> A shrub or small tree of the genus Corylus, as the C. Avellana, bearing a nut containing a kernel of a mild, farinaceous taste; the filbert. The American species are C. Americana, which produces the common hazelnut, and C. Rostrata. See Filbert. 4. A miner's name for freestone. Hazel earth, soil suitable for the hazel; a fertile loam. 5. <ornithology> Hazel grouse, a European grouse (Bonasa betulina), allied to the American ruffed grouse. Hazel hoe, a kind of grub hoe. Witch hazel. See Witch-hazel, and Hamamelis. Origin: OE. Hasel, AS. Haesel; akin to D. Hazelaar, G. Hazel, OHG. Hasal, hasala, Icel. Hasl, Dan & Sw. Hassel, L. Corylus, for cosylus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water witch | <zoology> The dabchick. The stormy petrel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch | 1. One who practices the black art, or magic; one regarded as possessing supernatural or magical power by compact with an evil spirit, especially. With the Devil; a sorcerer or sorceress; now applied chiefly or only to women, but formerly used of men as well. "There was a man in that city whose name was Simon, a witch." (Wyclif (Acts viii. 9)) "He can not abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears she's a witch." (Shak) 2. An ugly old woman; a hag. 3. One who exercises more than common power of attraction; a charming or bewitching person; also, one given to mischief; said especially of a woman or child. 4. <geometry> A certain curve of the third order, described by Maria Agnesi under the name versiera. 5. <zoology> The stormy petrel. Witch balls, a name applied to the interwoven rolling masses of the stems of herbs, which are driven by the winds over the steppes of Tartary. Cf. Tumbleweed. 6. <botany> Witches' besoms, vegetable sulphur. See Vegetable. Origin: OE. Wicche, AS. Wicce, fem, wicca, masc.; perhaps the same word as AS. Witiga, witga, a soothsayer (cf. Wiseacre); cf. Fries. Wikke, a witch, LG. Wikken to predict, Icel. Vitki a wizard, vitka to bewitch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch-elm | <botany> See Wych-elm. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| witch's milk | A secretion of colostrum-like milk sometimes occurring in the glands of newborn infants of either sex 3 to 4 days after birth and lasting a week or two; due to endocrine stimulation from the mother before birth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| witch-tree | <botany> The witch-hazel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |