witch hazel

witch hazel
    n 1: any of several shrubs or trees of the genus Hamamelis; bark
         yields an astringent lotion [syn: {witch hazel}, {witch
         hazel plant}, {wych hazel}, {wych hazel plant}]
    2: lotion consisting of an astringent alcoholic solution
       containing an extract from the witch hazel plant [syn: {witch
       hazel}, {wych hazel}]
    

Hazel \Ha"zel\ (h[=a]"z'l), n. [OE. hasel, AS. h[ae]sel; akin to
   D. hazelaar, G. hazel, OHG. hasal, hasala, Icel. hasl, Dan &
   Sw. hassel, L. corylus, for cosylus.]
   1. (Bot.) A shrub or small tree of the genus {Corylus}, as
      the {Corylus avellana}, bearing a nut containing a kernel
      of a mild, farinaceous taste; the filbert. The American
      species are {Corylus Americana}, which produces the common
      hazelnut, and {Corylus rostrata}. See {Filbert}. --Gray.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A miner's name for freestone. --Raymond.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Hazel earth}, soil suitable for the hazel; a fertile loam.
      

   {Hazel grouse} (Zool.), a European grouse ({Bonasa
      betulina}), allied to the American ruffed grouse.

   {Hazel hoe}, a kind of grub hoe.

   {Witch hazel}. See {Witch-hazel}, and {Hamamelis}.
      [1913 Webster]