Turpeth

1 definition found

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

  Turpeth \Tur"peth\, n. [NL. turpethum, fr. Per. tirbid a
     cathartic, turbad a purgative root. Cf. {Turbith}.] [Written
     also {turbeth}, and {turbith}.]
     1. (Bot.) The root of {Ipom[oe]a Turpethum}, a plant of
        Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, formerly used in medicine
        as a purgative; -- sometimes called {vegetable turpeth}.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.) A heavy yellow powder, {Hg3O2SO4}, which consists
        of a basic mercuric sulphate; -- called also {turpeth
        mineral}.
        [1913 Webster]