Word Study
colocynth
CIDE DICTIONARY
colocynth, n. [L. colocynthis, Gr. . Cf. Coloquintida.].
The light spongy pulp of the fruit of the bitter cucumber (Citrullus colocynthis , or Cucumis colocynthis ), an Asiatic plant allied to the watermelon; coloquintida. It comes in white balls, is intensely bitter, and a powerful cathartic. Called also bitter apple , bitter cucumber , bitter gourd . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
colocynth, n. (also coloquintida)
1 a a plant of the gourd family, Citrullus colocynthis, bearing a pulpy fruit. b this fruit.
2 a bitter purgative drug obtained from the fruit.
1 a a plant of the gourd family, Citrullus colocynthis, bearing a pulpy fruit. b this fruit.
2 a bitter purgative drug obtained from the fruit.
Etymology
L colocynthis f. Gk kolokunthis
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