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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.
[L. plantago.] A plant of the genus Plantago, of several species. The water plantain is of the genus Alisma.

PLANT'AIN


Definition 2024


plantain

plantain

English

Common plantain (Plantago)

Noun

plantain (plural plantains)

  1. A plant of the genus Plantago, with a rosette of sessile leaves about 10 cm long with a narrow part instead of a petiole, and with a spike inflorescence with the flower spacing varying widely among the species. See also psyllium.
    • 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society 2007, p. 225:
      The roots of Plantain and Pellitory of Spain beaten to powder and put into hollow teeth, takes away the pains of them.
    • 2003, Michael Hofmann, translating Ernst Jünger, Storm of Steel, Penguin 2004, p. 41:
      The paths too are overgrown, but easily identified by the presence on them of round-leaved plantains.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations

See also

Etymology 2

From Spanish plantano, obsolete variant of plátano, from Galibi Carib platana (banana).

plantain (Musa)fruit slices frying

Noun

plantain (plural plantains)

  1. A plant in the genus Musa, the genus that includes banana, but with lower sugar content than banana.
  2. The fruit of the plant, usually cooked before eating and used like potatoes.
Translations
Related terms

Quotations

  • For usage examples of this term, see Citations:plantain.

See also


French

Etymology

From Old French plantain, from Latin plantāgō, plantāginem.

Noun

plantain m (plural plantains)

  1. plantain, any plant of genus Plantago

Old French

Etymology

From Latin plantāgō, plantāginem.

Noun

plantain m (oblique plural plantainz, nominative singular plantainz, nominative plural plantain)

  1. plantain, any plant of genus Plantago

Descendants