colchicum

American  

[kol-chi-kuhm, kol-ki-] / ˈkɒl tʃɪ kəm, ˈkɒl kɪ- /

noun

1. any Old World plant of the genus Colchicum, of the lily family, especially the autumn crocus, C. autumnale.

2. the dried seeds or corms of this plant.

3. Pharmacology. a medicine or drug prepared from them, used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of gout.

---

colchicum British  

/ ˈkɒltʃɪkəm, ˈkɒlkɪ- /

noun

1. any Eurasian liliaceous plant of the genus Colchicum, such as the autumn crocus

2. the dried seeds or corms of the autumn crocus: a source of colchicine

---

Etymology

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

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

colchicum

Take jalap, colchicum seeds, and gum guaiac, of each one dram.

From The Ladies Book of Useful Information Compiled from many sources by Anonymous

That shocking thing that drives people mad colocynth, or colchicum, or something like that.

From The Daltons, Volume I (of II) Or,Three Roads In Life by Charles James Lever

I have gout and blue devils on me, but you can always do more for me than colchicum if you say 'all right.'

From Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. II by Edmund Downey

Tea on a short smooth sward, starred with yellow colchicum, while the carriage, travel-stained and with one step lacking, stood on the road hard by, and the horses nibbled invigorating lumps of "gram" and molasses.

From A Holiday in the Happy Valley with Pen and Pencil by T. R. Swinburne

I had Hudson to dinner on Monday, and we laughed ourselves into the gout, and had to finish the evening with hot flannels and colchicum.

From Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. II by Edmund Downey

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---