colocynth
Americannoun
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a plant, Citrullus colocynthis, belonging to the gourd family, of the warmer parts of Asia, the Mediterranean region, etc., bearing a round, yellow or green fruit with a bitter pulp.
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the fruit of this plant.
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Pharmacology. the drug derived from the pulp of the unripe but full-grown fruit of this plant, used in medicine chiefly as a purgative.
noun
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a cucurbitaceous climbing plant, Citrullus colocynthis, of the Mediterranean region and Asia, having bitter-tasting fruit
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the dried fruit pulp of this plant, used as a strong purgative
Etymology
Origin of colocynth
1555–65; < Latin colocynthis < Greek kolokynthís, variant of kolókyntha bitter gourd, bitter cucumber
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.
Dose, of the extract, from five to fifteen grains; of the compound extract, from five to fifteen grains; of the compound colocynth pill, the best of all its preparations, from ten to twenty grains.
From Enquire Within Upon Everything The Great Victorian Domestic Standby by Anonymous
Aloes are, perhaps, the best, combined with colocynth; the dose will vary with the size of the animal.
From Sheep, Swine, and Poultry Embracing the History and Varieties of Each; The Best Modes of Breeding; Their Feeding and Management; Together with etc. by Robert Jennings
I think I will send out a box of colocynth, and a bit of nice tender veal, to put him in good humour again.
From Girlhood and Womanhood The Story of some Fortunes and Misfortunes by Sarah Tytler
Treatment of 'acute rheumatism'—bleeding largely is very important in this affection, and if followed up with two or three purges of aloes, gamboge, colocynth and calomel will arrest the progress of this disease.
From The Dog by William Youatt
One of the principal ingredients in the mummy balsam is colocynth, or bitter apple, powdered.
From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 14, No. 398, November 14, 1829 by Various
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.
