jalap
Americannoun
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the dried tuberous root of any of several plants, especially Exogonium purga, of the morning glory family, or the light yellowish powder derived from it, used in medicine chiefly as a purgative.
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any of these plants.
noun
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a Mexican convolvulaceous plant, Exogonium (or Ipomoea ) purga
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any of several similar or related plants
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the dried and powdered root of any of these plants, used as a purgative
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the resin obtained from any of these plants
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jalap
1665–75; < Middle French < Spanish ( purga de ) Jalapa purgative from Jalapa
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.
At Barrett’s apothecary, Eliza purchased jalap and Bohea tea.
From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Dr. Adam Kuhn called the mercury and jalap drink “a murderous dose” and said so in the newspapers.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
I, myself, have found great benefit by it; and if it be good in its kind, it is the finest jalap upon earth.
From Augusta Triumphans Or, the Way to Make London the Most Flourishing City in the Universe by Daniel Defoe
Tincture of jalap, five or six drops in water every three hours til it purges, to be repeated daily.
From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Erasmus Darwin
At length there were about one hundred yards between us, and I had reached a small patch of flowering jalap trees which covered me.
From The Backwoodsman or, Life on the Indian Frontier 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.
