squill

[ skwil ]

noun
  1. the bulb of the sea onion, Urginea maritima, of the lily family, cut into thin slices and dried, and used in medicine chiefly as an expectorant.

  2. the plant itself.

  1. any related plant of the genus Scilla.

Origin of squill

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin squilla, variant of scilla<Greek skílla

Other words from squill

  • squill-like, adjective

Words Nearby squill

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How to use squill in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for squill

squill

/ (skwɪl) /


noun
  1. the bulb of the sea squill, formerly used medicinally as an expectorant after being sliced and dried

  1. any Old World liliaceous plant of the genus Scilla, such as S. verna (spring squill) of Europe, having small blue or purple flowers

Origin of squill

1
C14: from Latin squilla sea onion, from Greek skilla, of obscure origin

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