Forms: 4–5 wodewexen, 6–9 woodwazen, 9 woad-waxen. [app. oblique case of OE. form of WOODWAX (wuduweaxan) taken as nom. The form woadwaxen is due to association with WOAD.] The plant dyer’s broom or greenweed, Genista tinctoria.

1

1367.  Close Roll 41 Edw. III., m. 9 dorso, Tercia pars tocius comoditatis … tam in denariis quam de subbosco & wodewexen.

2

a. 1400.  Old Usages Winchester, in Engl. Gilds (1870), 358. Euerych a cart y-lade wt mader, þt comeþ to selle, twey pans;… Also, y cart y-lade wt wodewexen to sale, fowie pans.

3

1567.  Maplet, Gr. Forest, 51. The Marigolde of Manardus is called Lysimachia…. Woodwaxen [glastum] … groweth in Medowes and Pastures like to Brome.

4

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, VI. viii. 667. Of base Broome or Woodwaxen.

5

1650.  [W. Howe], Phytol. Brit., 16.

6

1829.  [see WOODWAXER above].

7

1861.  S. Thomson, Wild Fl., III. (ed. 4), 236.

8