1. Any of several deciduous shrubs or small trees of the genus Hamamelis, especially H. virginiana, of eastern North America, having yellow flowers that bloom in late autumn or winter.
2. An alcoholic solution containing an extract of the bark and leaves of this plant, applied externally as a mild astringent.

[Alteration of obsolete wych, wych elm; see wych elm + HAZEL.]

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.