1. A Eurasian parasitic shrub (Viscum album) having leathery evergreen leaves and waxy white berries.
2. Any of several American parasitic shrubs, such as Phoradendron flavescens of eastern North America.
3. A sprig of mistletoe, often used as a Christmas decoration.

[Middle English mistelto, back-formation from Old English misteltān (tān , taken for pl. of tā, toe) : mistel, mistletoe + tān, twig.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.