goldthread

American  

[gohld-thred] / ˈgoʊldˌθrɛd /

noun

1. a white-flowered plant, Coptis trifolia, of the buttercup family, having a slender, yellow root that is sometimes used as a tonic.

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goldthread British  

/ ˈɡəʊldˌθrɛd /

noun

1. a North American woodland ranunculaceous plant, Coptis trifolia (or C. groenlandica ), with slender yellow roots

2. the root of this plant, which yields a medicinal tonic and a dye

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Etymology

Origin of goldthread

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; gold + thread

Example Sentences

The circles on the left represent the organisms that contributed genes to the bioengineered yeast: California poppy, rat, goldthread, bacteria, and opium poppy.

From The Verge • Aug. 13, 2015

In fact, the strains they produced can make molecules that are normally found in poppy, goldthread, bacteria — and even in rats.

From The Verge • Aug. 13, 2015

But she didn’t know many of the others: goldthread, blue aralia, skullcap.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

Crescents, stars, moons and suns were in goldthread embroidery on the small fez that Elijah Muhammad wore.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

But they knew where thoroughwort grows, and the wholesome goldthread; they gathered cress and peppermint, and could tell the mushroom from its noisome kindred.

From Meadow Grass Tales of New England Life by Brown, Alice