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colicroot

American  
[kol-ik-root, -root] / ˈkɒl ɪkˌrut, -ˌrʊt /

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 root reputed to cure colic.

  3. the blazing star, Liatris squarrosa.

colicroot British  
/ ˈkɒlɪkˌruːt /

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of colicroot

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; colic + root 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s also known as White Colic-root or Colicroot.

From Washington Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.