scammony

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(skam′ə nē)

noun pl. scammonies

  1. a climbing Asian convolvulus (Convolvulus scammonia) with thick roots, arrowhead-shaped leaves, and white or purplish flowers
    1. any of several plants whose roots yield medicinal resins; specif., (Ipomoea orizabensis) of the morning-glory family
    2. the resin from the roots of any of these plants

Origin: ME skamonye < L scammonia < Gr skammōnia

See scammony in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. scam·mo·nies
  1. An eastern Mediterranean plant (Convolvulus scammonia) having large roots that yield a resin formerly used as a cathartic.
  2. The resin obtained from this plant.
  3. A cathartic preparation made from this resin.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English scamonie

Origin: , from Old English scammōniam

Origin: and from Old French scamonie

Origin: , both from Latin scammōnea

Origin: , from Greek skammōniā

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© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.