Wort (?), n. [OE. wort, wurt, AS. wyrt herb, root; akin to OS. wurt, G. wurz, Icel. jurt, urt, Dan. urt, Sw. ort, Goth. wa�xa3;rts a root, L. radix, Gr. a root, a branch, young shoot, a branch, and E. root, n. Cf. Licorice, Orchard, Radish, Root, n., Whortleberry, Wort an infusion of malt.]
1. Bot.
A plant of any kind.
⇒ This word is now chiefly used in combination, as in colewort, figwort, St. John's-wort, woundwort, etc.
2. pl.
Cabbages.
© Webster 1913.
Wort (?), n. [OE. worte, wurte, AS. wyrte; akin to OD. wort, G. wurze, bierwurze, Icel. virtr, Sw. vort. See Wort an herb.]
An infusion of malt which is unfermented, or is in the act of fermentation; the sweet infusion of malt, which ferments and forms beer; hence, any similar liquid in a state of incipient fermentation.
⇒ Wort consists essentially of a dilute solution of sugar, which by fermentation produces alcohol and carbon dioxide.
© Webster 1913.