colocynth Meaning, Definition & Usage

Col"ocynth noun

Etymology

L. colocynthis, Gr. . Cf. Coloquintida.

Definitions

1. (Med.) The light spongy pulp of the fruit of the bitter cucumber (Citrullus, ∨ Cucumis, colocynthis), an Asiatic plant allied to the watermelon; coloquintida. It comes in white balls, is intensely bitter, and a powerful cathartic. Called also bitter apple, bitter cucumber, bitter gourd.