'Viscum album' definitions:
Definition of 'Viscum album'
From: WordNet
noun
Old World parasitic shrub having branching greenish stems with leathery leaves and waxy white glutinous berries; the traditional mistletoe of Christmas [syn: mistletoe, Viscum album, Old World mistletoe]
Definition of 'Viscum album'
From: GCIDE
- Mistletoe \Mis"tle*toe\, n. [AS. mistelt[=a]n; mistel mistletoe + t[=a]n twig. AS. mistel is akin of D., G., Dan. & Sw. mistel, OHG. mistil, Icel. mistilteinn; and AS. t[=a]n to D. teen, OHG. zein, Icel. teinn, Goth. tains. Cf. Missel.] (Bot.) A parasitic evergreen plant of Europe (Viscum album), bearing a glutinous fruit. When found upon the oak, where it is rare, it was an object of superstitious regard among the Druids. A bird lime is prepared from its fruit. [Written also misletoe, misseltoe, and mistleto.] --Lindley. --Loudon. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The mistletoe of the United States is {Phoradendron serotinum} (syn. Phoradendron flavescens), having broader leaves than the European kind. In different regions various similar plants are called by this name. The mistletoe is used as a decoration at Christmas time, and it is a tradition that two persons of the oposite sex finding each other under a mistletoe sprig should kiss. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Definition of 'Viscum album'
From: GCIDE
- Viscin \Vis"cin\, n. (Chem.) A clear, viscous, tasteless substance extracted from the mucilaginous sap of the mistletoe (Viscum album), holly, etc., and constituting an essential ingredient of birdlime. [1913 Webster]