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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of myrobalan

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

Example Sentences

Purge gently with cassia, rhubarb, senna and myrobalan.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

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)

Take one drachm of senna, a scruple of aniseed, myrobalan, half an ounce, with a sufficient quantity of barley water.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

Hornbeam, beech, myrobalan or cherry plum and blackthorn also have their advantages, hornbeam being proof against great exposure, blackthorn thriving on poor land and possessing great impenetrability and so on.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

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)