agaric Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun fungus used in the preparation of punk for fuses
    Fomes igniarius.
  2. noun a saprophytic fungus of the order Agaricales having an umbrellalike cap with gills on the underside

WordNet

Ag"a*ric noun
Etymology
L. agaricum, Gr. , said to be fr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.
  2. An old name for severwal species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood. ✍ The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalic) was renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk of German tinder.

Webster 1913