n. 1 any marsh plant of the genus Lysimachia, esp. the golden or yellow loosestrife, L. vulgaris. 2 any plant of the genus Lythrum, esp. the purple loosestrife L. salicaria, with racemes of star-shaped purple flowers.
[ LOOSE + STRIFE, taking the Gk name lusimakhion (f. Lusimakhos, its discoverer) as if directly f. luo undo + makhe battle ]