LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

viscum

viscum n (genitive viscī)
Classical[ˈwɪs.kũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈvis.kum]

Meaning

  1. neutermistletoe
  2. neuterbirdlime made from this plant

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeviscumvisca
genitiveviscīviscōrum
dativeviscōviscīs
accusativeviscumvisca
ablativeviscōviscīs
vocativeviscumvisca

viscum, i, n. (m. collat. form viscus, i, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 16) [cf. Gr. ἰξός, ϝιξος; Lat. viscus],
I. the mistletoe.
I. Lit., Plin. 16, 44, 94, § 248; 24, 4, 6, § 11; Verg. A. 6, 205.—
II. Transf., birdlime made from the berries of the mistletoe, Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 144; Verg. G. 1, 139; Val. Fl. 6, 263; Mart. Spect. 11, 2.—
B. Trop.: viscus merus vestra est blanditia, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 16: tactus sum vehementer visco: cor stimulo foditur, i. e. with love, id. ib. 5, 2, 39.

Origins

Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *weyḱs-, possibly a European borrowing for a tree similar to the mistletoe. Compare also Ancient Greek ἰξός (ixós, “mistletoe, birdlime”), Proto-Slavic *višьňa, Proto-Germanic *wīhsilō, and probably Italian visciola (“sour cherry”), the last likely a Germanic borrowing. Traditionally associated with vīrus, although this is unlikely. Also compare Proto-Germanic *wiskaz (“bundle of hay or straw, wisp”). More at virga.

Descendants
  • Catalanvesc
  • Frenchgui
  • Italianvischio
  • Occitanvesc
  • Portuguesevisgofrom Old Galician-Portuguese visco
  • Portugueseviscofrom Old Galician-Portuguese visco
  • Romanianvâsc
  • Sardinianbiscu
  • Sardinianviscu
  • Spanishvisco

Quick answers

What does viscum mean in Latin?
viscum, a noun, means “mistletoe; birdlime made from this plant”.
What is the genitive of viscum?
The genitive singular is viscī. viscum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce viscum?
In classical Latin, [ˈwɪs.kũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈvis.kum].