bryony

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bry=o=ny

CIDE DICTIONARY

bryony, n. [L. bryonia, Gr. brywni`a, fr. bry`ein to swell, esp. of plants.].

 The common name of several cucurbitaceous plants of the genus Bryonia. The root of Bryonia alba (rough bryony or white bryony) and of Bryonia dioica is a strong, irritating cathartic.  [1913 Webster]

Black bryony, a plant (Tamus communis) so named from its dark glossy leaves and black root; black bindweed.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bryony, n. (pl. -ies) any climbing plant of the genus Bryonia, esp. B. dioica bearing greenish-white flowers and red berries.

Idiom

black bryony a similar unrelated plant, Tamus communis, bearing poisonous berries.

Etymology

L bryonia f. Gk bruonia