witch hazel
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A North American shrub (JHamamelis virginiand) having several large branches. It is so called because its twigs are used as divining rods.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “witch hazel” mean?
A North American shrub (JHamamelis virginiand) having several large branches. It is so called because its twigs are used as divining rods.
Is “witch hazel” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.