Indian hemp
Americannoun
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a North American dogbane, Apocynum cannabinum, having erect clusters of greenish-white flowers and a root with laxative and emetic properties.
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hemp.
noun
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another name for hemp, esp the variety Cannabis indica, from which several narcotic drugs are obtained
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Also called: dogbane. a perennial American apocynaceous plant, Apocynum cannabinum, whose fibre was formerly used by the Indians to make rope
Etymology
Origin of Indian hemp
An Americanism dating back to 1610–20
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.
He called her attention to and brought her samples of ginger leaves, Indian hemp, queen-of-the-meadow, cone-flower, burdock, baneberry, and Indian turnip, as he harvested them in turn.
From The Harvester by Gene Stratton-Porter
There were pieces of thread made of Indian hemp and the inner bark of the elm.
From The Scouts of the Valley by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler
This was plainly our Indian hemp, Asclepias incarnata.
From Voyages of Samuel De Champlain — Volume 02 by Charles P. (Charles Pomeroy) Otis
Somewhat after the manner of the willow-herb behave the pods and seeds of willows, poplars, milkweeds, Indian hemp, and cotton.
From Seed Dispersal by W. J. (William James) Beal
The ranunculaceæ contain many plants which yield alkaloids, as Hydrastia canadensis, or Indian hemp, Helleborus, Delphinum, Aconitum, and the alkaloid berberine has been obtained from genera of this family.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 623, December 10, 1887 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.
