Word Study
Woad
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun Woad has 2 senses
- woad(n = noun.substance) - a blue dyestuff obtained from the woad plant; is a kind of dye, dyestuff
- woad(n = noun.plant) - any of several herbs of the genus Isatis; is a member of genus isatis, isatis
has particulars: dyer's woad, isatis tinctoria
is a kind of herb, herbaceous plant
CIDE DICTIONARY
Woad, n. [OE. wod, AS. wād; akin to D. weede, G. waid, OHG. weit, Dan. vaid, veid, Sw. veide, L. vitrum.].
- An herbaceous cruciferous plant (
Isatis tinctoria ) of the familyCruciferae (syn.Brassicaceae ). It was formerly cultivated for the blue coloring matter derived from its leaves. See isatin. [1913 Webster] - A blue dyestuff, or coloring matter, consisting of the powdered and fermented leaves of the
Isatis tinctoria . It is now superseded by indigo, but is somewhat used with indigo as a ferment in dyeing. [1913 Webster]"Their bodies . . . painted with woad in sundry figures." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Woad, n. hist.
1 a cruciferous plant, Isatis tinctoria, yielding a blue dye now superseded by indigo.
2 the dye obtained from this.
1 a cruciferous plant, Isatis tinctoria, yielding a blue dye now superseded by indigo.
2 the dye obtained from this.
Etymology
OE wad f. Gmc
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