turpeth Meaning, Definition & Usage

Tur"peth noun
Etymology
NL. turpethum, fr. Per. tirbid a cathartic, turbad a purgative root. Cf. Turbith.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The root of Ipom&oe;a Turpethum, a plant of Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, formerly used in medicine as a purgative; -- sometimes called vegetable turpeth.
  2. (Chem.) A heavy yellow powder, Hg3O2SO4, which consists of a basic mercuric sulphate; -- called also turpeth mineral.

Webster 1913