colchicum
[ kol-chi-kuh m, kol-ki- ]
/ ˈkɒl tʃɪ kəm, ˈkɒl kɪ- /
noun
any Old World plant of the genus Colchicum, of the lily family, especially the autumn crocus, C. autumnale.
the dried seeds or corms of this plant.
Pharmacology. a medicine or drug prepared from them, used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of gout.
Words nearby colchicum
colbert, colby, colcannon, colchester, colchicine, colchicum, colchis, colcothar, cold, cold abscess, cold agglutination
Origin of colchicum
1590–1600; < New Latin, Latin < Greek kolchikón meadow saffron, noun use of neuter of Kolchikós of Colchis, apparently by association with Medea, the plant being considered poisonous
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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British Dictionary definitions for colchicum
colchicum
/ (ˈkɒltʃɪkəm, ˈkɒlkɪ-) /
noun
any Eurasian liliaceous plant of the genus Colchicum, such as the autumn crocus
the dried seeds or corms of the autumn crocus: a source of colchicine
Word Origin for colchicum
C16: from Latin, from Greek kolkhikon, from kolkhikos of Colchis
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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