Buckthorn
any of several, sometimes thorny trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Rhamnus, especially R. frangula, the bark of which is used in medicine.
Compare buckthorn family.
a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Bumelia, of the sapodilla family, especially B. lycioides, a thorny tree having elliptic leaves and large clusters of white flowers, common in the southern and part of the central U.S.
Historical Examples
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) Various
Old-Time Gardens Alice Morse Earle
Stories of the Foot-hills Margaret Collier Graham
Gold Stewart White
In Midsummer Days and Other Tales August Strindberg
The Elements of Botany Asa Gray
And So They Were Married Florence Morse Kingsley
Wayside and Woodland Trees Edward Step
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 1 Various
The Moonstone Wilkie Collins
noun
any of several thorny small-flowered shrubs of the genus Rhamnus, esp the Eurasian species R. cathartica, whose berries were formerly used as a purgative: family Rhamnaceae See also sea buckthorn
Read Also:
- Buckthorn-family
the plant family Rhamnaceae, characterized by shrubs and trees having alternate, simple leaves, clusters of small flowers, and fruit in the form of a drupe or capsule, and including the buckthorn, cascara, and New Jersey tea.
- Buck--up
(of a saddle or pack animal) to leap with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack. Informal. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly: The mayor bucked at the school board’s suggestion. (of a vehicle, motor, or the like) to operate unevenly; move […]
- Buckwheat
a plant, especially Fagopyrum esculentum, cultivated for its triangular seeds, which are used as a feed for animals or made into a flour for human consumption, as in pancakes or cereal. Compare buckwheat family. the seeds of this plant. Also, buckwheat flour. flour made from seeds of buckwheat. made with buckwheat flour: buckwheat pancakes. Contemporary […]
- Buckwheat-cake
a pancake made of buckwheat flour.
- Buckwheat-coal
anthracite coal in sizes ranging from 5/16 to 9/16 inch (7.9 to 13.9 m).