English

hagweed

hag + weed, in reference to witches, who were said to ride brooms.

A compound of hag + weed

Proto-West Germanic *hagatussjā ‘witch’

Old English hægtesse ‘harpy, witch’

Middle English hagge ‘demon, old woman’

English hag

Proto-West Germanic *weud

Old English wēod

Middle English weed

English weed

Today it means

noun The broom plant.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.