'Monk's rhubarb' definitions:

Definition of 'Monk's rhubarb'

From: GCIDE
  • Rhubarb \Rhu"barb\, n. [F. rhubarbe, OF. rubarbe, rheubarbe, reubarbare, reobarbe, LL. rheubarbarum for rheum barbarum, Gr. ??? (and ??) rhubarb, from the river Rha (the Volga) on whose banks it grew. Originally, therefore, it was the barbarian plant from the Rha. Cf. Barbarous, Rhaponticine.]
  • 1. (Bot.) The name of several large perennial herbs of the genus Rheum and order Polygonaceae. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The large and fleshy leafstalks of Rheum Rhaponticum and other species of the same genus. They are pleasantly acid, and are used in cookery. Called also pieplant. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Med.) The root of several species of Rheum, used much as a cathartic medicine. [1913 Webster]
  • Monk's rhubarb. (Bot.) See under Monk.
  • Turkey rhubarb (Med.), the roots of Rheum Emodi. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Monk's rhubarb'

From: GCIDE
  • Monk \Monk\, n. [AS. munuc, munec, munc, L. monachus, Gr. ?, fr. mo`nos alone. Cf. Monachism.]
  • 1. A man who retires from the ordinary temporal concerns of the world, and devotes himself to religion; one of a religious community of men inhabiting a monastery, and bound by vows to a life of chastity, obedience, and poverty. "A monk out of his cloister." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Monks in some respects agree with regulars, as in the substantial vows of religion; but in other respects monks and regulars differ; for that regulars, vows excepted, are not tied up to so strict a rule of life as monks are. --Ayliffe. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Print.) A blotch or spot of ink on a printed page, caused by the ink not being properly distributed. It is distinguished from a friar, or white spot caused by a deficiency of ink. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A piece of tinder made of agaric, used in firing the powder hose or train of a mine. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Zool.) (a) A South American monkey (Pithecia monachus); also applied to other species, as Cebus xanthocephalus. (b) The European bullfinch. [1913 Webster]
  • Monk bat (Zool.), a South American and West Indian bat (Molossus nasutus); -- so called because the males live in communities by themselves.
  • Monk bird(Zool.), the friar bird.
  • Monk seal (Zool.), a species of seal ({Monachus albiventer}) inhabiting the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the adjacent parts of the Atlantic.
  • Monk's rhubarb (Bot.), a kind of dock; -- also called patience (Rumex Patientia). [1913 Webster]