scammony

2 definitions found

scammony - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Scammony \Scam"mo*ny\ (sk[a^]m"m[-o]*n[y^]), n. [F.
     scammon['e]e, L. scammonia, scammonea, Gr. skammwni`a.]
     1. (Bot.) A species of bindweed or Convolvulus
        (Convolvulus Scammonia).
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An inspissated sap obtained from the root of the
        Convolvulus Scammonia, of a blackish gray color, a
        nauseous smell like that of old cheese, and a somewhat
        acrid taste. It is used in medicine as a cathartic.
        [1913 Webster]

scammony - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  scammony
      n 1: tropical American morning glory [syn: scammony, Ipomoea orizabensis
           ]
      2: resin from the root of Convolvulus scammonia
      3: twining plant of Asia Minor having cream-colored to purple
         flowers and long thick roots yielding a cathartic resin [syn:
         scammony, Convolvulus scammonia]