plantain

3 definitions found

plantain - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Plantain \Plan"tain\, n. [Cf. F. plantain-arbre, plantanier, Sp.
     pl['a]ntano, pl['a]tano; prob. same word as plane tree.]
     1. (Bot.) A treelike perennial herb (Musa paradisiaca) of
        tropical regions, bearing immense leaves and large
        clusters of the fruits called plantains. See Musa.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The fruit of this plant. It is long and somewhat
        cylindrical, slightly curved, and, when ripe, soft,
        fleshy, and covered with a thick but tender yellowish
        skin. The plantain is a staple article of food in most
        tropical countries, especially when cooked.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Plantain cutter, or Plantain eater (Zool.), any one of
        several large African birds of the genus Musophaga, or
        family Musophagid[ae], especially Musophaga violacea.
        See Turaco. They are allied to the cuckoos.
  
     Plantain squirrel (Zool.), a Java squirrel (Sciurus  plantani
        ) which feeds upon plantains.
  
     Plantain tree (Bot.), the treelike herb Musa paradisiaca.
        See def. 1 (above).
        [1913 Webster]

  Plantain \Plan"tain\, n. [F., fr. L. plantago. Cf. Plant.]
     (Bot.)
     Any plant of the genus Plantago, but especially the
     Plantago major, a low herb with broad spreading radical
     leaves, and slender spikes of minute flowers. It is a native
     of Europe, but now found near the abode of civilized man in
     nearly all parts of the world.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Indian plantain. (Bot.) See under Indian.
  
     Mud plantain, a homely North American aquatic plant
        (Heteranthera reniformis), having broad, reniform
        leaves.
  
     Rattlesnake plantain, an orchidaceous plant (Goodyera  pubescens
        ), with the leaves blotched and spotted with
        white.
  
     Ribwort plantain. See Ribwort.
  
     Robin's plantain, the Erigeron bellidifolium, a common
        daisylike plant of North America.
  
     Water plantain, a plant of the genus Alisma, having acrid
        leaves, and formerly regarded as a specific against
        hydrophobia. --Loudon.
        [1913 Webster]

plantain - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  plantain
      n 1: any of numerous plants of the genus Plantago; mostly small
           roadside or dooryard weeds with elliptic leaves and small
           spikes of very small flowers; seeds of some used
           medicinally
      2: a banana tree bearing hanging clusters of edible angular
         greenish starchy fruits; tropics and subtropics [syn:
         plantain, plantain tree, Musa paradisiaca]
      3: starchy banana-like fruit; eaten (always cooked) as a staple
         vegetable throughout the tropics