Witch balls, a name applied to the interwoven rolling masses of the
stems of herbs, which are driven by the winds over the steppes of
Tartary. Cf. Tumbleweed. Maunder (Treas. of Bot.) — Witches' besoms
(Bot.), tufted and distorted branches of the silver fir, caused by the
attack of some fungus. Maunder (Treas. of Bot.) — Witches' butter
(Bot.), a name of several gelatinous cryptogamous plants, as Nostoc
commune, and Exidia glandulosa. See Nostoc. — Witch grass (Bot.), a
kind of grass (Panicum capillare) with minute spikelets on long,
slender pedicels forming a light, open panicle. — Witch meal (Bot.),
vegetable sulphur. See under Vegetable.
Witch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Witched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Witching.]
[AS. wiccian.] To bewitch; to fascinate; to enchant.
[I 'll] witch sweet ladies with my words and looks.
Shak.
Whether within us or without The spell of this illusion be That witches
us to hear and see.
Lowell.