colocynth Hear it!

colocynth definition

colo·cynth (käl′ə sint̸h′)

noun

  1. an African and Asian perennial vine (Citrullus colocynthis) of the gourd family, whose small, dried fruits are used in making a strong cathartic
  2. this fruit, or the cathartic prepared from it; bitter apple

Etymology: L colocynthis < Gr kolokynthis

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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