Woad

[wәud]

Definition

(noun.) any of several herbs of the genus Isatis.

(noun.) a blue dyestuff obtained from the woad plant.

Inputed by Kurt--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) An herbaceous cruciferous plant (Isatis tinctoria). It was formerly cultivated for the blue coloring matter derived from its leaves.

(n.) 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 It is now superseded by indigo, but is somewhat used with indigo as a ferment in dyeing.

Edited by Cathryn

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. Weld, dyer's weed (Genista tinctorla), woad-waxen, wood-waxen, wood-wax, dyer's broom.

Inputed by Huntington

Definition

n. a genus of cruciferous plants whose few species are mostly natives of the countries around the Mediterranean—Dyer's woad yields a good and very permanent dye but is now largely superseded by indigo.—adj. Woad′ed dyed blue with woad.

Checker: Rudolph