colicroot

[ kol-ik-root, -roo t ]
/ ˈkɒl ɪkˌrut, -ˌrʊt /

noun

either of two North American plants, Aletris farinosa or A. aurea, of the lily family, having small yellow or white flowers in a spikelike cluster and a root reputed to relieve colic.
any of certain other plants having roots reputed to cure colic.
the blazing star, Liatris squarrosa.

Origin of colicroot

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; colic + root1

Words nearby colicroot

colic, colic artery, colicin, colicinogen, colicky, colicroot, colicweed, coliform, coliform bacillus, coliform bacteria, coligny

Example sentences from the Web for colicroot

British Dictionary definitions for colicroot

colicroot
/ (ˈkɒlɪkˌruːt) /

noun

either of two North American liliaceous plants, Aletris farinosa or A. aurea, having tubular white or yellow flowers and a bitter root formerly used to relieve colic
any of various other plants formerly used to relieve colic