veratrum

noun

ve·​ra·​trum və-ˈrā-trəm 

: hellebore sense 2

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, a plant genus, going back to Latin vērātrum "any of various poisonous or medicinal plants, probably of the genera Helleborus and Veratrum," probably of pre-Latin origin

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

veratrum

noun

ve·​ra·​trum və-ˈrā-trəm 

1

a

capitalized : a genus of coarse herbs of the lily family (Liliaceae) having short poisonous rootstocks

b

: any hellebore of the genus Veratrum

2

: hellebore sense 2b