Mistletoe
/ˈmɪs.əl.toʊ/noun
A plant with small white berries, often used as a decoration at Christmas.
Did you know?In ancient Druidic rituals, mistletoe was considered a powerful symbol of fertility and life, often used in sacred ceremonies.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*mistlaz
“mistletoe, a plant name.”
Old English
OE
misteltān
“mistletoe, literally 'dung on a twig'.”
Old High German
OHG
mistiltana
“mistletoe, related to the Old English form.”
Middle English
ME
misteltan
“an evolution of the Old English spelling.”
Modern English
English
mistletoe
“the current form referring to the plant used in Christmas traditions.”