birthroot

American  

[burth-root, -root] / ˈbɜrθˌrut, -ˌrʊt /

noun

1. Also called birthwort, purple trillium.  a trillium, Trillium erectum, the roots of which were formerly used in medicine as an astringent.

2. any of certain other species of trillium.

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birthroot British  

/ ˈbɜːθˌruːt /

noun

1. any of several North American plants of the genus Trillium , esp T. erectum , whose tuber-like roots were formerly used by the Native Americans as an aid in childbirth: family Trilliaceae

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Etymology

Origin of birthroot

First recorded in 1815–25; birth + root ¹

Example Sentences

It is first cousin to the trilliums, among the prettiest of our native wild flowers, and the same bad blood crops out in the purple trillium or birthroot.

From A Year in the Fields by Burroughs, John

"It is first cousin to the trilliums, among the prettiest of our native wild flowers," continues Burroughs, "and the same bad blood crops out in the purple trillium or birthroot."

From Wild Flowers An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors by Blanchan, Neltje