colchicum
[ kol-chi-kuh m, kol-ki- ]
/ ˈkɒl tʃɪ kəm, ˈkɒl kɪ- /
noun
any Old World plant of the genus Colchicum, of the lily family, especially the autumn crocus, C. autumnale.
the dried seeds or corms of this plant.
Pharmacology.
a medicine or drug prepared from them, used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of gout.
Origin of colchicum
1590–1600; < New Latin, Latin < Greek
kolchikón meadow saffron, noun use of neuter of
Kolchikós of
Colchis, apparently by association with Medea, the plant being considered poisonous
Words nearby colchicum
colbert,
colby,
colcannon,
colchester,
colchicine,
colchicum,
colchis,
colcothar,
cold,
cold abscess,
cold agglutination
Example sentences from the Web for colchicum
British Dictionary definitions for colchicum
colchicum
/ (ˈkɒltʃɪkəm, ˈkɒlkɪ-) /
noun
any Eurasian liliaceous plant of the genus Colchicum, such as the autumn crocus
the dried seeds or corms of the autumn crocus: a source of colchicine
Word Origin for colchicum
C16: from Latin, from Greek
kolkhikon, from
kolkhikos of
Colchis