any of various primulaceous plants of the genus Lysimachia, esp the yellow-flowered L. vulgaris (yellow loosestrife)
See also moneywort
2. purple loosestrife
3.
any of several similar or related plants, such as the primulaceous plant Naumburgia thyrsiflora (tufted loosestrife)
Word origin
C16: loose + strife, an erroneous translation of Latin lysimachia, as if from Greek lusimakhos ending strife, instead of from the name of the supposed discoverer, Lusimakhos
loosestrife in American English
(ˈlusˌstraɪf)
noun
1.
any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family, with leafy stems and loose spikes of white, rose, or yellow flowers
2.
any of a genus (Lythrum) of plants of the loosestrife family, esp. purple loosestrife (L. salicaria) with spikes of purple flowers
adjective
3.
designating a family (Lythraceae, order Myrtales) of chiefly tropical dicotyledonous plants, including henna
Word origin
loose, v. + strife: used as transl. of L lysimachia < Gr lysimacheios, understood as “ending strife” < lyein, to loosen, solve (see lysis) + machē, battle: from its assumed soothing properties, but prob. after Lysimachia, city in Thrace or Lysimachos, king of Thrace, its founder