GC: n

S: WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-227/witch-hazel (last access: 3 December 2023); Chestnuth – https://chestnutherbs.com/witch-hazel-bloomoogling-unusual-male-parts-explosive-seeds-and-medicinal-uses/ (last access: 3 December 2023).

N: 1. 1540s, probably from Old English wice “Applied generally or vaguely to various trees having pliant branches” [OED], from wican “to bend” (from PIE root *weik- (2) “to bend, to wind”) + hæsel, used for any bush of the pine family (see hazel (n.)). The North American bush, from which a soothing lotion is made, was so called from 1670s. This is the source of the verb witch in dowsing.

2. Seed Plants (Spermatophyta): A plant of the family Hamamelidaceae.
– Latin: Hamamelis virginiana; Hamamelis androgyna; Hamamelis corylifolia.

– Key term(s):

• American witchhazel
• witchhazel
• witch hazel
• American witch hazel.

3. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana, Hamamelidaceae) is a woodland shrub that grows from Florida to Nova Scotia and west to Minnesota and Texas. It prefers to grow near streams, rivers, and wet bottomlands in partial shade to full sun, but it can be easily cultivated in regular garden soil. There are only four species in the genus Hamamelis, two being native to eastern North America and two native to eastern Asia. Hamamelis virginiana is the only species in the genus that flowers in the fall; the other species flower in winter or very early spring.

4. Witch hazel is a plant. The leaf, bark, and twigs are used to make medicine. You may see a product called witch hazel water (Hamamelis water, distilled witch hazel extract). This is a liquid that is distilled from dried leaves, bark, and partially dormant twigs of witch hazel.

5. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) directed by Stanley Donen (1924-2019).
Movie script: Why are you doing that?|He ain’t done nothing!
Boys, boys! Stop the fight!
Witch hazel.
Split lip.
Don’t smile for a few days.|Next?
Two beefsteaks.
A kick in the pants.
Next?
A loose tooth|and swelled-up knuckles.
It’s a wonder you have any teeth left.|Witch hazel, please.
I’m sorry, Milly.|But when that fellow took after Adam…
I understand.
You all did your best, I guess.
Good night, boys.
Good night, Milly.

S: 1. OED – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=witch+hazel (last access: 3 December 2023). 2. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=witch+hazel&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 3 December 2023). 3. Chestnuth – https://chestnutherbs.com/witch-hazel-bloomoogling-unusual-male-parts-explosive-seeds-and-medicinal-uses/ (last access: 3 December 2023). 4. WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-227/witch-hazel (last access: 3 December 2023). 5. Movie Scripts – https://stockq.org/moviescript/S/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers.php (last access: 3 December 2023).

SYN: hamamelis (depending on context)

S: GDT – https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/fiche-gdt/fiche/19067910/hamamelis (last access: 3 December 2023)

CR: thymol