loosestrife

[ loos-strahyf ]
/ ˈlusˌstraɪf /

noun

any of various plants belonging to the genus Lysimachia, of the primrose family, having clusters of usually yellow flowers, as L. vulgaris (garden loosestrife) or L. quadrifolia (whorled loosestrife).
any of several plants belonging to the genus Lythrum, of the loosestrife family.
Compare purple loosestrife.

Origin of loosestrife

1540–50; loose (v.) + strife, mistranslation of Latin lȳsimachīa (< Greek lȳsimáchei(os) + -a feminine noun suffix; see lysi-, -machy), plant said to be named after a certain Lysímachos; see -ia

Words nearby loosestrife

loose-tongued, loosebox, loosen, loosening of association, loosening of associations, loosestrife, loosestrife family, loosey-goosey, loosie, loosies, loosing

Example sentences from the Web for loosestrife

British Dictionary definitions for loosestrife

loosestrife
/ (ˈluːsˌstraɪf) /

noun

any of various primulaceous plants of the genus Lysimachia, esp the yellow-flowered L. vulgaris (yellow loosestrife) See also moneywort
purple loosestrife a purple-flowered lythraceous marsh plant, Lythrum salicaria
any of several similar or related plants, such as the primulaceous plant Naumburgia thyrsiflora (tufted loosestrife)

Word Origin for loosestrife

C16: loose + strife, an erroneous translation of Latin lysimachia, as if from Greek lusimakhos ending strife, instead of from the name of the supposed discoverer, Lusimakhos