squill
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Related to squill: red squill
squill
(skwĭl)n.
1.
a. Any of several plants of the genus Urginea of Africa and Eurasia, especially the Mediterranean species U. maritima, having a large bulb and lanceolate leaves.
b. A powder prepared from the dried inner scales of the bulbs of U. maritima, used as rat poison and formerly as a cardiac stimulant, expectorant, and diuretic.
2. See scilla.
[Middle English, from Latin scilla, squill (Urginea maritima), from Greek skilla.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
squill
(skwɪl)n
1. (Plants) See sea squill
2. (Pharmacology) the bulb of the sea squill, formerly used medicinally as an expectorant after being sliced and dried
3. (Plants) any Old World liliaceous plant of the genus Scilla, such as S. verna (spring squill) of Europe, having small blue or purple flowers
[C14: from Latin squilla sea onion, from Greek skilla, of obscure origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
squill
(skwɪl)n.
1. the bulb of the sea onion, Urginea maritima, of the lily family, cut into thin slices and dried: used esp. as an expectorant.
2. the plant itself.
3. any related plant of the genus Scilla.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin squilla, variant of scilla < Greek skílla]
squill′-like`, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. |  squill - bulb of the sea squill, which is sliced, dried, and used as an expectorantsea onion, sea squill, Urginea maritima, squill - having dense spikes of small white flowers and yielding a bulb with medicinal properties bulb - a modified bud consisting of a thickened globular underground stem serving as a reproductive structure |
| 2. |  squill - having dense spikes of small white flowers and yielding a bulb with medicinal propertiesliliaceous plant - plant growing from a bulb or corm or rhizome or tuber genus Urginea, Urginea - Mediterranean liliaceous plants; sometimes placed in family Hyacinthaceae squill - bulb of the sea squill, which is sliced, dried, and used as an expectorant | |
| 3. |  squill - an Old World plant of the genus Scilla having narrow basal leaves and pink or blue or white racemose flowersliliaceous plant - plant growing from a bulb or corm or rhizome or tuber genus Scilla - sometimes placed in subfamily Hyacinthaceae |
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