croton

[ kroht-n ]
/ ˈkroʊt n /

noun

any of numerous chiefly tropical plants constituting the genus Croton, of the spurge family, several species of which, as C. tiglium, have important medicinal properties.
(among florists) any plant of the related genus Codiaeum (or Phyllaurea) cultivated for its ornamental foliage.

Origin of croton

1745–55; < New Latin < Greek krotṓn a tick, also the castor-oil plant, which has berries likened to ticks

Example sentences from the Web for croton

British Dictionary definitions for croton

croton
/ (ˈkrəʊtən) /

noun

any shrub or tree of the chiefly tropical euphorbiaceous genus Croton, esp C. tiglium, the seeds of which yield croton oil
any of various tropical plants of the related genus Codiaeum, esp C. variegatum pictum, a house plant with variegated foliage

Word Origin for croton

C18: from New Latin, from Greek krotōn tick, castor-oil plant (whose berries resemble ticks)