'Ruscus aculeatus' definitions:

Definition of 'Ruscus aculeatus'

noun

Shrub with stiff flattened stems resembling leaves (cladophylls); used for making brooms [syn: butcher's broom, Ruscus aculeatus]

From: GCIDE

Broom \Broom\ (br[=oo]m), n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. br[=o]m; akin to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. br[=a]mo broom, thorn?bush, G. brombeere blackberry. Cf. Bramble, n.]
1. (Bot.) A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to sweep with when bound together; esp., the {Cytisus scoparius} of Western Europe, which is a low shrub with long, straight, green, angular branches, minute leaves, and large yellow flowers. [1913 Webster]
No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
2. An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long wooden handle; -- so called because originally made of the twigs of the broom. [1913 Webster]
Butcher's broom, a plant (Ruscus aculeatus) of the Smilax family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks; -- called also knee holly. See Cladophyll.
Dyer's broom, a species of mignonette (Reseda luteola), used for dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket.
Spanish broom. See under Spanish. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Butcher's broom \Butch"er's broom`\ (Bot.) A genus of plants (Ruscus); esp. Ruscus aculeatus, which has large red berries and leaflike branches. See Cladophyll. [1913 Webster]