mistletoe English · revision 759

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/, /ˈmɪz(ə)ltəʊ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmɪsəlˌtoʊ/, /ˈmɪzəlˌtoʊ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mistelto]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[inh|ang|misteltān]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[af|ang|mistel|tān|t1=mistletoe|t2=twig]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) ''Mistel'' is cognate with Old High German ''mistil'' and German ''Mistel'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MW Collegiate) and ''tān'' with Old Norse ''teinn'' “twig” and Gothic ''tains''.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Old Norse had the same compound, ''mistilteinn''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) 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.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The parasitic plant ''Viscum album'', growing on trees (c. 1000, with ''mistel'' alone about 700).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Mistletoe was venerated by the Druids, especially when found growing on the oak, which it seldom does.^(Etymonline)^(Hendrickson 2008) The custom of hanging it at Christmas and kissing under it is mentioned by Washington Irving;^(Etymonline) Hendrickson dates it to the early 17th century in England.^(Hendrickson 2008) 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.^(Hendrickson 2008) From 1597 the name was applied to related plants such as the American mistletoe.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 700 – Old English ''mistel''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1000 – ''misteltān''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1125 – ''mistelta''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1597 – related species, such as American mistletoe.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A European [[parasitic]] shrub, ''Viscum album'', with leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries, growing on trees.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any of several related parasitic shrubs, such as the American ''Phoradendron''.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A sprig of mistletoe used as a [[Christmas]] decoration, under which people may kiss.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[missel thrush]]

+ * [[toe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}