agaric

2 definitions found

agaric - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Agaric \Ag"a*ric\ (?; 277), n. [L. agaricum, Gr. ?, said to be
     fr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.]
     1. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species,
        of which the common mushroom is an example.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An old name for several species of Polyporus, corky
        fungi growing on decaying wood.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalis) was
           renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius
           ) is used for preparing touchwood, called
           punk or German tinder.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of
        lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or
        fissures of limestone.
        [1913 Webster]

agaric - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  agaric
      n 1: fungus used in the preparation of punk for fuses [syn:
           agaric, Fomes igniarius]
      2: a saprophytic fungus of the order Agaricales having an
         umbrellalike cap with gills on the underside