viscum

Meaning

1. (declension-2, neuter) mistletoe
2. (declension-2, neuter) birdlime made from this plant

Concepts

mistletoe

mistle

Translations

visco

gui

Mistel

vischio

ökseotu

ιξός

maretak

vogellijm

muérdago

vesc

γκι

visco

mistel

Mistelzweig

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈwɪs.kũː]

Etymology

Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *weyḱs-, possibly a European borrowing for a tree similar to the mistletoe. Compare also Ancient Greek ἰξός (ixós, “mistletoe, birdlime”), Proto-Slavic *višьňa, Proto-Germanic *wīhsilō, and probably Italian visciola (“sour cherry”), the last likely a Germanic borrowing. Traditionally associated with vīrus, although this is unlikely. Also compare Proto-Germanic *wiskaz (“bundle of hay or straw, wisp”). More at virga.