- Physic nut
- Physic Phys"ic, n. [OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F.
physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice,
fr. Gr. ?, fr. fysiko`s natural, from fy`sis nature, fr. ? to
produce, grow, akin to E. be. See {Be}, and cf. {Physics},
{Physique}.]
1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the
theory or practice of medicine. ``A doctor of physik.''
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine. [1913 Webster]
3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic. [1913 Webster]
4. A physician. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
{Physic nut} (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree ({Jatropha Curcas}), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.