† ˈoysterloit
Also -loyte, -loite.
An old name of bistort, Polygonum Bistorta.
[Perh. an error in Lyte for *oysterloyce: cf. ‘Oosterlucye, Aristolochia, herba, Ger. osterlucey’ (Kilian). According to Turner Names of Herbes (1881) 83 ‘Bistorta is called..in the South countrey Astrologia’: see the various forms of this word under Aristolochia and Astrologe.]
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xiv. 23 The small Bistorte..is called in some places of England Oysterloyte. 1611 Cotgr., Couleuvrée, Snakeweed, Oysterloit. |