| a European plant, Paris quadrifolia, of the lily family, formerly used in medicine. |
| herb Paris n. A European plant (Paris quadrifolia) having a whorl of four leaves and a solitary yellow or greenish flower. [Probably Medieval Latin herba paris, herb of a pair (perhaps a reference to the two pairs of leaves on the whorl) : Latin herba, herb + Latin paris, genitive of pār, equal; see par.] |