viscum

See also: Viscum

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *weyḱs-, possibly a European borrowing for a tree similar to the mistletoe. Compare also Ancient Greek ἰξός (ixós, “mistletoe, birdlime”), Proto-Slavic *višьňa, Proto-Germanic *wīhsilō, and probably Italian visciola (“sour cherry”), the last likely a Germanic borrowing. Traditionally associated with vīrus, although this is unlikely. Also compare Proto-Germanic *wiskaz (“bundle of hay or straw, wisp”). More at virga.

Pronunciation

Noun

viscum n (genitive viscī); second declension

  1. mistletoe
  2. birdlime made from this plant

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case Singular Plural
Nominative viscum visca
Genitive viscī viscōrum
Dative viscō viscīs
Accusative viscum visca
Ablative viscō viscīs
Vocative viscum visca

Derived terms

Descendants
  • → Albanian: veshtull
  • Aromanian: vãscu, vescu
  • Catalan: vesc
  • French: gui
  • Friulian: visc
  • Galician: visgo
  • Italian: vischio
  • Occitan: vesc
  • Portuguese: visco, visgo
  • Romanian: vâsc
  • Sardinian: biscu, viscu
  • → Spanish: visco
  • Translingual: Viscum

References
  • “viscum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • “viscum”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • viscum in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
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