witch hazel
• noun
An astringent liquid extract distilled from the bark, leaves, and twigs of the North American shrub Hamamelis virginiana, widely used in skincare and topical lotions to soothe skin irritation and inflammation.
"After washing her face, she applied a gentle toner made with witch hazel and rosewater."
Any of several deciduous shrubs or small trees of the genus Hamamelis, native to North America and East Asia, cultivated for their fragrant clusters of strap-like, crinkled yellow, orange, or red flowers that bloom in late autumn or winter.
"The bright yellow blossoms of the witch hazel brought a welcome splash of color to the snowy winter garden."
Word Nuance & Usage
The first element derives from the Old English 'wice' (meaning pliant or bendable), rather than having any direct linguistic connection to witchcraft, though its forked twigs were historically used for water dowsing.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.