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rhubarb
5 dictionary results for: rhubarb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
rhu·barb       [roo-bahrb] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.any of several plants belonging to the genus Rheum, of the buckwheat family, as R. officinale, having a medicinal rhizome, and R. rhabarbarum, having edible leafstalks.
2.the rhizome of any medicinal species of this plant, forming a combined cathartic and astringent.
3.the edible, fleshy leafstalks of R. rhabarbarum, used in making pies, preserves, etc.
4.Slang. a quarrel or squabble.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME rubarb, reubarb < OF r(e)ubarbe < ML reubarbarum < Gk rhéon bárbaron foreign rhubarb]
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rhu·barb       (rōō'bärb')  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. Any of several plants of the genus Rheum, especially R. rhabarbarum, having long green or reddish acidic leafstalks that are edible when sweetened and cooked. Also called pie plant.
  2. The dried, bitter-tasting rhizome and roots of Rheum palmatum or R. officinale of eastern Asia, used as a laxative.
  3. Informal A quarrel, fight, or heated discussion.


[Middle English rubarbe, from Old French, from Late Latin reubarbarum, probably alteration (influenced by Greek rhēon) of rhabarbarum : rha, rhubarb (from Greek rhā, perhaps from Rhā, the Volga River) + Latin barbarum, neuter of barbarus, barbarian, foreign; see barbarous.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rhubarb 
c.1390, from O.Fr. rubarbe, from M.L. rheubarbarum, from Gk. rha barbaron "foreign rhubarb," from rha "rhubarb" (associated with Rha, ancient Scythian name of the River Volga) + barbaron, neut. of barbaros "foreign." Grown in China ans Tibet, it was imported into ancient Europe by way of Russia. Spelling altered in M.L. by association with rheum. European native species so called from 1650. Baseball slang meaning "loud squabble on the field" is from 1938, of unknown origin, said to have been first used by broadcaster Garry Schumacher. Perhaps connected with use of rhubarb as a word repeated by stage actors to give the impression of hubbub or conversation (attested from 1934).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
rhubarb

noun
1. long pinkish sour leafstalks usually eaten cooked and sweetened [syn: pieplant
2. plants having long green or reddish acidic leafstalks growing in basal clumps; stems (and only the stems) are edible when cooked; leaves are poisonous 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rhubarb

Rhu"barb\, n. [F. rhubarbe, OF. rubarbe, rheubarbe, reubarbare, reobarbe, LL. rheubarbarum for rheum barbarum, Gr. ??? (and ??) rhubarb, from the river Rha (the Volga) on whose banks it grew. Originally, therefore, it was the barbarian plant from the Rha. Cf. Barbarous, Rhaponticine.]

1. (Bot.) The name of several large perennial herbs of the genus Rheum and order Polygonace[ae].

2. The large and fleshy leafstalks of Rheum Rhaponticum and other species of the same genus. They are pleasantly acid, and are used in cookery. Called also pieplant.

3. (Med.) The root of several species of Rheum, used much as a cathartic medicine.

Monk's rhubarb. (Bot.) See under Monk.

Turkey rhubarb (Med.), the roots of Rheum Emodi.

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