Senecas

1 definition found

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

  Senecas \Sen"e*cas\, n. pl.; sing. {Seneca}. (Ethnol.)
     A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited a part of Western
     New York. This tribe was the most numerous and most warlike
     of the Five Nations.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {Seneca grass}(Bot.), holy grass. See under {Holy}.
  
     {Seneca eil}, petroleum or naphtha.
  
     {Seneca root}, or {Seneca snakeroot} (Bot.), the rootstock of
        an American species of milkworth ({Polygala Senega})
        having an aromatic but bitter taste. It is often used
        medicinally as an expectorant and diuretic, and, in large
        doses, as an emetic and cathartic. [Written also {Senega
        root}, and {Seneka root}.]
        [1913 Webster]