rhatany

[rat-n-ee]

noun

plural

rhatanies 

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.

rhatany

/ ˈrætənɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhatany¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from New Latin rhatania, from Latin American Spanish rataña, Portuguese ratánhia, from Quechua ratánya; the rh- is by analogy with Greek scientific terms beginning with rh-, e.g., rhododendron, rheumatic

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhatany¹

C19: from New Latin rhatānia , ultimately from Quechua ratánya

Example Sentences

For roughness or dryness, alum, oak sawdust, rhatany or kino.

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

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The catechu which is obtained in India from the Bonga differs from that obtained from the Acacia Catechu and is a tonic analogous to rhatany and cinchona.

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A cup of camomile or peppermint tea, taken when first awaking, and suffering the patient to be still for an hour, will frequently alleviate the distressing sickness; but should it recur during the day, and if these means fail, two or three teaspoonfuls of the following mixture should then be taken either occasionally or, when the vomiting and heartburn are more continual, immediately after each meal: Take of—   Calcined magnesia, One dram; Distilled water, Six ounces; Aromatic tincture of rhatany, Six drams; Water of pure ammonia, One dram.

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Krameria triandra.—This is one of the species that yield the rhatany roots of commerce.

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