Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Plantain
Plan′tain
,Noun.
[Cf. F.
plantain-arbre
, plantanier
, Sp. plántano
, plátano
; prob. same word as plane
tree.] 1.
(Bot.)
A treelike perennial herb (
Musa paradisiaca
) of tropical regions, bearing immense leaves and large clusters of the fruits called plantains. See Musa
. 2.
The fruit of this plant. It is long and somewhat cylindrical, slightly curved, and, when ripe, soft, fleshy, and covered with a thick but tender yellowish skin. The plantain is a staple article of food in most tropical countries, especially when cooked.
Plantain cutter
, or
Plantain eater
(Zool.)
, any one of several large African birds of the genus
– Musophaga
, or family Musophagidæ
, especially Musophaga violacea
. See Turaco
. They are allied to the cuckoos. Plantain squirrel
(Zool.)
, a Java squirrel (
– Sciurus plantani
) which feeds upon plantains. Plantain tree
(Bot.)
, the treelike herb
Musa paradisiaca
. See def. 1 (above).Plan′tain
,Noun.
[F., fr. L.
plantago
. Cf. Plant
.] (Bot.)
Any plant of the genus
Plantago
, but especially the Plantago major
, a low herb with broad spreading radical leaves, and slender spikes of minute flowers. It is a native of Europe, but now found near the abode of civilized man in nearly all parts of the world. Indian plantain
. (Bot.)
See under
– Indian
. Mud plantain
, a homely North American aquatic plant (
– Heteranthera reniformis
), having broad, reniform leaves. Rattlesnake plantain
, an orchidaceous plant (
– Goodyera pubescens
), with the leaves blotched and spotted with white. Ribwort plantain
. See
– Ribwort
. Robin’s plantain
, the
– Erigeron bellidifolium
, a common daisylike plant of North America. Water plantain
, a plant of the genus
Alisma
, having acrid leaves, and formerly regarded as a specific against hydrophobia. Loudon.
Webster 1828 Edition
Plantain
PLANT'AIN
,Noun.