noun
- plural of colocynth; bitter fruits of a Mediterranean plant used medicinally as a purgative
Usage: botanical; medical
Examples
- The herbalist prepared a tincture from dried colocynths.
- Ancient physicians used colocynths as a powerful laxative.
- The colocynths were harvested when fully ripe and yellow.
- Due to their toxicity, colocynths require careful preparation.
- Traditional medicine texts describe various uses for colocynths.
- The bitter taste of colocynths made them unpalatable as food.