woad

views updated May 23 2018

woad (dyerswoad) Biennial or perennial herb once grown as a source of blue dye. It was probably introduced by the early Britons to dye clothing and paint their bodies. A native of Eurasia, it bears small four-petalled, yellow flowers. Height: 90cm (3ft). Family Brassicaceae/Cruciferae; species Isatis tinctoria.

woad

views updated Jun 08 2018

woad a yellow-flowered European plant, formerly widely grown in Britain as a source of blue dye. It is often referred to allusively as typifying an early and uncivilized era in which the skin was patterned with woad.

woad

views updated May 29 2018

woad blue dye-stuff obtained from the plant Isatis tinctoria. OE. wād = MLG., MDu. wēt, (also mod.) weede, OHG. weit (G. waid):- WGmc. *waida-.