polygala

[ puh-lig-uh-luh ]
/ pəˈlɪg ə lə /

noun

any plant of the genus Polygala, comprising the milkworts.

Origin of polygala

1570–80; < New Latin, genus name, special use of Latin polygala, for Greek polýgalon milkwort, literally, something very milky, equivalent to poly- poly- + -galon, derivative of gála milk; see galacto-

OTHER WORDS FROM polygala

pol·y·ga·la·ceous [pol-ee-guh-ley-shuh s, puh-lig-uh-] /ˌpɒl i gəˈleɪ ʃəs, pəˌlɪg ə-/, adjective

Words nearby polygala

polyethnic, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyfoam, polyfunctional, polygala, polygalaceous, polygalactia, polygalacturonase, polygamic, polygamist

British Dictionary definitions for polygalaceous (1 of 2)

polygalaceous
/ (ˌpɒlɪɡəˈleɪʃəs, pəˌlɪɡ-) /

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Polygalaceae, a family of plants having flowers with two large outer petal-like sepals, three small sepals, and three to five petals: includes milkwort

British Dictionary definitions for polygalaceous (2 of 2)

polygala
/ (pəˈlɪɡələ) /

noun

any herbaceous plant or small shrub of the polygalaceous genus Polygala See also milkwort

Word Origin for polygala

C18: New Latin, from Greek polugalon, from poly- + gala milk