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rhatany

[rat-n-ee]
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noun, plural rhat·a·nies.
  1. either of two South American shrubs belonging to the genus Krameria, of the legume family, K. tiandra (knotty rhatany or Peruvian rhatany) or K. argentea (Brazilian rhatany or Pará rhatany).
  2. the root of either of these plants, used as an astringent and tonic in medicine and also to color port wine.
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Origin of rhatany

1800–10; < New Latin rhatania < American Spanish rataña
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for rhatany

Historical Examples

  • Color, if too light with Tincture of Rhatany, then rack it off and fine it.

    One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed

    C. A. Bogardus

  • Hard extract of rhatany is also much employed for the same purpose.

British Dictionary definitions for rhatany

rhatany

noun plural -nies
  1. either of two South American leguminous shrubs, Krameria triandra or K. argentea, that have thick fleshy roots
  2. the dried roots of such shrubs used as an astringent
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Also called: krameria

Word Origin

C19: from New Latin rhatānia, ultimately from Quechua ratánya
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012