'Abrus precatorius' definitions:

Definition of 'Abrus precatorius'

From: GCIDE
  • Licorice \Lic"o*rice\ (l[i^]k"[-o]*r[i^]s), n. [OE. licoris, through old French, fr. L. liquiritia, corrupted fr. glycyrrhiza, Gr. glyky`rriza; glyky`s sweet + "ri`za root. Cf. Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza, Wort.] [Written also liquorice.]
  • 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza ({Glycyrrhiza glabra}), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and for medicinal purposes. [1913 Webster]
  • Licorice fern (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor.
  • Licorice sugar. (Chem.) See Glycyrrhizin.
  • Licorice weed (Bot.), the tropical plant Scapania dulcis.
  • Mountain licorice (Bot.), a kind of clover ({Trifolium alpinum}), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock.
  • Wild licorice. (Bot.) (a) The North American perennial herb {Glycyrrhiza lepidota}. (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers (Galium circ[ae]zans and Galium lanceolatum). (c) The leguminous climber Abrus precatorius, whose scarlet and black seeds are called {black-eyed Susans}. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Abrus precatorius'

From: GCIDE
  • Vetch \Vetch\ (v[e^]ch), n. [Also fitch; OE. ficche, feche, for veche, OF. veche, vecce, vesche, vesce, F. vesce, fr. L. vicia.] (Bot.) Any leguminous plant of the genus Vicia, some species of which are valuable for fodder. The common species is {Vicia sativa}. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The name is also applied to many other leguminous plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of the genus Lathyrus; the horse vetch, of the genus Hippocrepis; the kidney vetch ({Anthyllis vulneraria}); the milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus; the licorice vetch, or wild licorice (Abrus precatorius). [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Abrus precatorius'

From: GCIDE
  • Jequirity \Je*quir"i*ty\, n., or Jequirity bean \Je*quir"i*ty bean`\ [Prob. fr. a native name.] (Bot.) The seed of the wild licorice (Abrus precatorius) used by the people of India for beads in rosaries and necklaces, as a standard weight, etc.; -- called also jumble bead. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]