calandine Meaning, Definition & Usage

Cal"an*dine noun

Etymology

OE. celidoine, OF. celidoine, F. chélidoine, fr. L. chelidonia (sc. herba), fr. chelidonius pertaining to the swallow, Gr. , fr. the swallow, akin to L. hirundo a swallow.

Definitions

1. (Bot.) A perennial herbaceous plant (Chelidonium majus) of the poppy family, with yellow flowers. It is used as a medicine in jandice, etc., and its acrid saffron-colored juice is used to cure warts and the itch; -- called also greater celandine and swallowwort.