witch hazel

noun witch ha·zel \ˈwich-ˌhā-zəl\

: a lotion that is made from the bark of a plant and that is used to heal the skin

Full Definition of WITCH HAZEL

: any of a genus (Hamamelis of the family Hamamelidaceae, the witch-hazel family) of shrubs or small trees with slender-petaled usually yellow flowers borne in late fall or early spring; especially : one (H. virginiana) of eastern North America that blooms in the fall

: an alcoholic solution of a distillate of the bark of a witch hazel (H. virginiana) used as a soothing and mildly astringent lotion

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Origin of WITCH HAZEL

witch, a tree with pliant branches, from Middle English wyche, from Old English wice; probably akin to Old English wīcan to yield — more at weak

First Known Use: circa 1760

Rhymes with WITCH HAZEL

appraisal, Azazel

WITCH HAZEL Defined for Kids

witch hazel

noun witch ha·zel \ˈwich-ˌhā-zəl\

Definition of WITCH HAZEL for Kids

: a shrub with small yellow flowers in late fall or early spring

: a soothing alcoholic lotion made from the bark of the witch hazel

Word History of WITCH HAZEL

The witch in witch hazel has nothing to do with sorcery, but is rather a now uncommon word meaning “shrub with pliable branches.” It goes back to Old English wice, which may be related to modern English weak. As for the better-known witch meaning “sorceress,” it goes back to Old English wicce, a counterpart to the masculine noun wicca, “sorcerer.”

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