Woad

a well known plant of the mustard family. The term woad is akin to weed. The woad was formerly much cultivated in Great Britain for the sake of a blue die which was extracted from the leaves by grinding, fermenting, and soaking. Woad is still cultivated in some parts of Europe, but has been supplanted by indigo which gives a more intense blue. Woad was a favorite die with the early inhabitants of Great Britain. They are said to have stained their bodies with it, Indian fashion.