Adjacent Words

rattlesnake root definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: herb of central and southern Europe having purple florets [syn: rattlesnake root, Prenanthes purpurea]
2: a plant of the genus Nabalus

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1682 any of various plants formerly believed to be distasteful to rattlesnakes or effective against their venom: as a. any of a genus (Prenanthes, especially P. altissima) of composite plants with small heads of drooping ligulate flowers b. seneca snakeroot

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ground rattlesnake (Zo["o]l.), a small rattlesnake (Caudisona, or Sistrurus, miliaria) of the Southern United States, having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American grass (Glyceria Canadensis) with an ample panicle of rather large ovate spikelets, each one composed of imbricated parts and slightly resembling the rattle of the rattlesnake. Sometimes called quaking grass. Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.), See under Plantain. Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes (P. alba and P. serpentaria), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Calling also lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white lettuce. Rattlesnake's master (Bot.) (a) A species of Agave (Agave Virginica) growing in the Southern United States. (b) An umbelliferous plant (Eryngium yucc[ae]folium) with large bristly-fringed linear leaves. (c) A composite plant, the blazing star (Liatris squarrosa). Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the composite genus Hieracium (H. venosum); -- probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also Snakeroot.