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.

Nearby words

colbert, jean baptiste, 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for colchicum

It might therefore be supposed that Colchicum too acted as a Cholagogue.
The Action of Medicines in the System|Frederick William Headland
A glance at the sketches of Colchicum and Bulbocodium will show a peculiar method of growth.
Beautiful Bulbous Plants|John Weathers
Opodeldoc for rheumatism; chlorodyne for tic; colchicum for gout.
Christmas Penny Readings|George Manville Fenn
She and it belonged to his first volume, and neither crocus nor colchicum had been added at the date of which I write.
Rest Harrow|Maurice Hewlett

Those who adopt this view of its action aver that Colchicum acts best when it purges freely.
The Action of Medicines in the System|Frederick William Headland

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012