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colicroot

[kol-ik-root, -roo t]
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noun
  1. either of two North American plants, Aletris farinosa or A. aurea, of the lily family, having small yellow or white flowers in a spikelike cluster and a root reputed to relieve colic.
  2. any of certain other plants having roots reputed to cure colic.
  3. the blazing star, Liatris squarrosa.
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Origin of colicroot

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; colic + root1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for colicroot

Historical Examples

  • Other Common Names — Dioscorea, colicroot, rheumatism-root, devil's bones.

    Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants

    A. R. (Arthur Robert) Harding

British Dictionary definitions for colicroot

colicroot

noun
  1. either of two North American liliaceous plants, Aletris farinosa or A. aurea, having tubular white or yellow flowers and a bitter root formerly used to relieve colic
  2. any of various other plants formerly used to relieve colic
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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