mistletoe

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/, /ˈmɪz(ə)ltəʊ/ (UK); /ˈmɪsəlˌtoʊ/, /ˈmɪzəlˌtoʊ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English mistelto,^[2][3][4] inherited from Old English misteltān,^{[2][3][5][4][6]} from Old English mistel (“mistletoe”) + tān (“twig”).^{[2][3][5][4][6]} Mistel is cognate with Old High German mistil and German Mistel,^[3][5][6][4] and tān with Old Norse teinn “twig” and Gothic tains.^[5][6] Old Norse had the same compound, mistilteinn.^[3][5][6] The final -n was dropped, perhaps because it was taken for a plural ending after tān fell out of use; the OED regards it as a natural development of the West Saxon form.^[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The parasitic plant Viscum album, growing on trees (c. 1000, with mistel alone about 700).^[7][3]

Semantic evolution

Mistletoe was venerated by the Druids, especially when found growing on the oak, which it seldom does.^[5][8] The custom of hanging it at Christmas and kissing under it is mentioned by Washington Irving;^[5] Hendrickson dates it to the early 17th century in England.^[8] Some authorities connect mistel with mist “dung”, from the belief that the plant grew from bird droppings, while others link it to birdlime made from the berries.^[8] From 1597 the name was applied to related plants such as the American mistletoe.^[7]

Timeline

• about 700 – Old English mistel.^[3]
• c. 1000 – misteltān.^[7][3]
• about 1125 – mistelta.^[3]
• 1597 – related species, such as American mistletoe.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A European parasitic shrub, Viscum album, with leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries, growing on trees.
2. Any of several related parasitic shrubs, such as the American Phoradendron.
3. A sprig of mistletoe used as a Christmas decoration, under which people may kiss.

Related words

• missel thrush
• toe

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b c Hendrickson, Robert (2008), The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, 4th ed., New York: Facts on File