bistort

[ bis-tawrt ]

noun
  1. Also called snakeweed. a European plant, Polygonum bistorta, of the buckwheat family, having a twisted root, which is sometimes used as an astringent.

  2. any of several related plants, as P. viviparum(alpine bistort ).

Origin of bistort

1
First recorded in 1570–80, bistort is from the Medieval Latin word bistorta twice twisted. See bis1, tort

Words Nearby bistort

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How to use bistort in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bistort

bistort

/ (ˈbɪstɔːt) /


noun
  1. Also called: snakeroot, snakeweed, Easter-ledges a Eurasian polygonaceous plant, Polygonum bistorta, having leaf stipules fused to form a tube around the stem and a spike of small pink flowers

  2. Also called: snakeroot a related plant, Polygonum bistortoides, of W North America, with oval clusters of pink or white flowers

  1. any of several other plants of the genus Polygonum

Origin of bistort

1
C16: from French bistorte, from Latin bis twice + tortus from torquēre to twist

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