myrobalan

American  

[mahy-rob-uh-luhn, mi-] / maɪˈrɒb ə lən, mɪ- /

noun

1. the dried plumlike fruit of certain tropical trees of the genus Phyllanthus, used in dyeing, tanning, and making ink.

2. cherry plum.

---

myrobalan British  

/ maɪˈrɒbələn, mɪ- /

noun

1. the dried plumlike fruit of various tropical trees of the genus Terminalia, used in dyeing, tanning, ink, and medicine

2. a dye extracted from this fruit

3. another name for cherry plum

---

Etymology

Origin of myrobalan

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin myrobalanum < Greek myrobálanos kind of fruit, equivalent to mýro ( n ) balsam + bálanos acorn

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

myrobalan

The apricot does well enough on the myrobalan if the soil needs that root; they are usually larger on the peach root or on apricot seedlings.

From One Thousand Questions in California Agriculture Answered by Wickson, Edward J. (Edward James)

Will apricots and peaches grafted or budded on myrobalan produce fruit as large as they will if grafted on their own stock?

From One Thousand Questions in California Agriculture Answered by Wickson, Edward J. (Edward James)

Thou beholdest Time as clearly as if it were an emblic myrobalan on the palm of thy hand.

From The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 by Ganguli, Kisari Mohan

A friend is very partial to the almond root instead of the myrobalan, but I understand that the prune tree sometimes outgrows the almond root.

From One Thousand Questions in California Agriculture Answered by Wickson, Edward J. (Edward James)

Is there more than one variety of myrobalan used, and if so, is one as good as another?

From One Thousand Questions in California Agriculture Answered by Wickson, Edward J. (Edward James)