Standard Lemma guide

bistort

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈbɪs.tɔːt/
  • US: /ˈbɪs.tɔɹt/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin bistorta, from bis (“twice”) and torta (“twisted”), in reference to its twisting roots.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: кървавиче (kǎrvaviče) — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Finnish: konnantatar — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • French: bistorte — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Hungarian: keserűfű — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Italian: bistorta — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Mongolian: мэхээр (mexeer) — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Polish: rdest — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Turkish: kurtpençesi — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Ottoman Turkish: قورت پنچهسی (kurt pençesi) — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers
  • Welsh: canwraidd — any of several perennial herbs, classified in genera Bistorta, Persicaria, or Polygonum, having spikes of pink flowers