Middle English Dictionary Entry
mistel-tō n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mistel-tō n. Also misleto, mistilte, (early) mistelta & mistiltin(e, mistelon, (?errors) mystyldene, mystynden. |
| Etymology | OE mistil-tān, with tān 'twig' misinterpreted as pl. of tā 'toe'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The European mistletoe (Viscum album); (b) the hardened white berries of mistletoe used as beads.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1125(?OE) Dur-C.Gloss.(Dur-C Hunter 100:Cockayne)305 : Uiscus: Mistelta.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)50a : Osmunda. Mistilte oþer arbuste growith vpon okys tre and oþer treys; he beryth many branches and bayes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)198b/a : Viscus quercinum: mistelto.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)190/28 : Osinum is an herbe þat men clepe mistilto [marg.: mysleto]..it growith on trees..and þat is best þat growith on ookys.
- a1500(?a1400) MS Sln.282 in Alphita (Sln 282)p.192 fn. : Viscus quercinus: wilde keyn [?read: wy de chene (= gui de chene)], or mystelon of oke.
- a1500 Sln.2584 Med.Miscell.(Sln 2584)130/6,7 : Take mystyldene of þe oke, and mystyldene of þe quyns-tre, and mystyldene of þe appiltre.
b
- (1452) Will York in Sur.Soc.30160 : j par precum de mistylltyn.
- (?1467) Will York in Sur.Soc.30283 : j par precularum de mystiltyne.
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45191 : j par precum de mystynden.