n. 1. a. Any of several plants of the genus Urginea of Africa and Eurasia, especially the Mediterranean species U. maritima, having a large bulb and lanceolate leaves. b. A powder prepared from the dried inner scales of the bulbs of U. maritima, used as rat poison and formerly as a cardiac stimulant, expectorant, and diuretic. 2. See scilla. [Middle English, from Latin scilla, squill (Urginea maritima), from Greek skilla.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.