Bryony

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bryony \Bry"o*ny\ (br[imac]"[-o]*n[y^]), n. [L. bryonia, Gr.
     brywni`a, fr. bry`ein to swell, esp. of plants.] (Bot.)
     The common name of several cucurbitaceous plants of the genus
     {Bryonia}. The root of {Bryonia alba} ({rough bryony} or
     {white bryony}) and of {Bryonia dioica} is a strong,
     irritating cathartic.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Black bryony}, a plant ({Tamus communis}) so named from its
        dark glossy leaves and black root; black bindweed.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  bryony
       n : a tendril-bearing vine of the genus Bryonia having large
           leaves and small flowers and yielding acrid juice with
           emetic and purgative properties [syn: {briony}]