orchis

2 definitions found

orchis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Orchis \Or"chis\, prop. n.; pl. Orchises. [L., fr. Gr. ? a
     testicle, the orchis; -- so called from its tubers.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants growing in the North
        Temperate zone, and consisting of about eighty species.
        They are perennial herbs growing from a tuber (beside
        which is usually found the last year's tuber also), and
        are valued for their showy flowers. See Orchidaceous.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) Any plant of the same family with the orchis; an
        orchid.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The common names, such as bee orchis, fly orchis,
           butterfly orchis, etc., allude to the peculiar form
           of the flower.
           [1913 Webster]

orchis - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  orchis
      n 1: any of various deciduous terrestrial orchids having fleshy
           tubers and flowers in erect terminal racemes
      2: one of the two male reproductive glands that produce
         spermatozoa and secrete androgens; "she kicked him in the
         balls and got away" [syn: testis, testicle, orchis,
         ball, ballock, bollock, nut, egg]