dodder

¹

[ dod-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to shake; tremble; totter.

dodder

²

[ dod-er ]

noun

1. a leafless parasitic plant, Cuscuta gronovii, having dense clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers on orange-yellow stems that twine about clover or flax.

dodder

¹

/ ˈdɒdə /

verb

1. to move unsteadily; totter
2. to shake or tremble, as from age

dodder

²

/ ˈdɒdə /

noun

1. any rootless parasitic plant of the convolvulaceous genus Cuscuta , lacking chlorophyll and having slender twining stems with suckers for drawing nourishment from the host plant, scalelike leaves, and whitish flowers

Derived Forms

• ˈdodderer, noun
• ˈdoddery, adjective

Other Words From

• dodder·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dodder¹

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of dadder “to shake, tremble,” of expressive origin; dither, totter, teeter, etc.

Origin of dodder²

1225–75; Middle English doder; cognate with Dutch, Danish dodder, Middle Low German dod ( d ) er, Middle High German toter, German Dotter

Word History and Origins

Origin of dodder¹

C17: variant of earlier dadder; related to Norwegian dudra to tremble

Origin of dodder²

C13: of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German dodder, Middle High German toter

Example Sentences

“There are examples of dodders flowering when their host isn’t flowering,” he says, so it remains unclear whether the parasites sometimes use other signals to flower.

From Science News

By eavesdropping, a new study shows, using a chemical signal from the dodder’s host as its own.

From Science News

The flowering protein also interacted with flowering-related genes in the dodders, which the researchers say is further evidence that FT kick-starts the whole process.

From Science News

If a dodder flowers too soon, it won’t grow as large as it could have and will produce fewer seeds.

From Science News

The cupbears found no drink for him in the Dodder (a river), and the Dodder had flowed through the house.

From Project Gutenberg

Found creeping like a small dodder-plant over other polyzoans, hydroids, and seaweeds.

From Project Gutenberg

Some called it Dodora, after the princess, and this was changed at last to 'dodder' by those who did not know.

From Project Gutenberg

Ivy ne'er clasp'd A dodder'd oak, as round the other's limbs The hideous monster intertwin'd his own.

From Project Gutenberg

Glenasmole, a fine valley about seven miles south of Dublin, through which the river Dodder flows.

From Project Gutenberg