01 n. An herbaceous cruciferous plant (Isatis tinctoria) of the family Cruciferae (syn. Brassicaceae). It was formerly cultivated for the blue co…
-
1.
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.(Bot.) See: isatin
-
2.
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 It is now superseded by indigo, but is somewhat used with indigo as a ferment in dyeing.“Their bodies . . . painted with woad in sundry figures.” — Milton.
Phrases & compounds
Wild woad —
the weld (Reseda luteola). See Weld.
Woad mill —
a mill grinding and preparing woad.