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

The prune, in fact, is more apt to overgrow the myrobalan than the almond, and the myrobalan will not do well on light soils likely to dry out as the almond will.

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

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

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)

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)

They were brimful of myrobalan, bdellium, saffron, and violets.

From Salammbo by Flaubert, Gustave