woad, n. [OE. wod, AS. wād; akin to D. weede, G. waid, OHG. weit, Dan. vaid, veid, Sw. veide, L. vitrum.].
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An herbaceous cruciferous plant (
Isatis tinctoria) of the family
Cruciferae (syn.
Brassicaceae). It was formerly cultivated for the blue coloring matter derived from its leaves. See
isatin. [
1913 Webster]
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A blue dyestuff, or coloring matter, consisting of the powdered and fermented leaves of the
Isatis tinctoria. It is now superseded by indigo, but is somewhat used with indigo as a ferment in dyeing. [
1913 Webster]
"Their bodies . . . painted with woad in sundry figures."
[1913 Webster]
Wild woad (Bot.), the weld (Reseda luteola). See Weld. -- Woad mill, a mill grinding and preparing woad.