ruscus aculeatus

3 definitions found

ruscus aculeatus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Broom \Broom\ (br[=oo]m), n. [OE. brom, brome, AS. br[=o]m; akin
     to LG. bram, D. brem, OHG. br[=a]mo broom, thorn?bush, G.
     brombeere blackberry. Cf. Bramble, n.]
     1. (Bot.) A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to
        sweep with when bound together; esp., the Cytisus  scoparius
         of Western Europe, which is a low shrub with
        long, straight, green, angular branches, minute leaves,
        and large yellow flowers.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom.
                                                    --Wordsworth.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of
        the panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or
        attached to a long wooden handle; -- so called because
        originally made of the twigs of the broom.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Butcher's broom, a plant (Ruscus aculeatus) of the Smilax
        family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks;
        -- called also knee holly. See Cladophyll.
  
     Dyer's broom, a species of mignonette (Reseda luteola),
        used for dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket.
  
     Spanish broom. See under Spanish.
        [1913 Webster]

  Butcher's broom \Butch"er's broom`\ (Bot.)
     A genus of plants (Ruscus); esp. Ruscus aculeatus, which
     has large red berries and leaflike branches. See
     Cladophyll.
     [1913 Webster]

ruscus aculeatus - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Ruscus aculeatus
      n 1: shrub with stiff flattened stems resembling leaves
           (cladophylls); used for making brooms [syn: butcher's broom
           , Ruscus aculeatus]