Note: The species of {Campanula}, or bellflower, are sometimes called milkwort, from their juice. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
milkwort — [milk′wʉrt΄] n. [from the former notion that it increases the secretion of milk in nursing women] any of a genus (Polygala) of plants of the milkwort family with showy flowers of various colors adj. designating a family (Polygalaceae, order… … English World dictionary
milkwort — noun Date: 1578 any of a genus (Polygala of the family Polygalaceae, the milkwort family) of herbs and shrubs often having showy flowers with three sometimes crested petals united below into a tube and an irregular calyx with two petaloid sepals … New Collegiate Dictionary
milkwort — /milk werrt , wawrt /, n. 1. any plant or shrub of the genus Polygala, formerly supposed to increase the secretion of milk. 2. See sea milkwort. [1570 80; MILK + WORT2] * * * … Universalium
milkwort — n. any plant from the genus Polygala (formerly thought to increase the secretion of milk by nursing women); sea milkwort, species of flowering aquatic plant … English contemporary dictionary
milkwort — noun Any of more than 500 species of flowering plants of the genus Polygala that are used as a food source by the larvae of some members of the Lepidoptra species … Wiktionary
milkwort — milk·wort (milkґwort) any plant of the genus Polygala … Medical dictionary
milkwort — noun a small plant with blue, pink, or white flowers, formerly believed to increase the milk yield of cows and nursing mothers. [Polygala vulgaris and related species.] … English new terms dictionary
milkwort — milk•wort [[t]ˈmɪlkˌwɜrt, ˌwɔrt[/t]] n. pln any of numerous plants or shrubs of the genus Polygala, having flowers with winged petals • Etymology: 1570–80 … From formal English to slang
milkwort — /ˈmɪlkwɜt/ (say milkwert) noun any of the herbs and shrubs constituting the genus Polygala, having (mostly) spikes or spike like racemes of variously coloured flowers, formerly reputed to increase the secretion of milk …
milkwort — n. any plant of the genus Polygala, formerly supposed to increase women s milk … Useful english dictionary
