n. a tropical Asian tree (Holarrhena pubescens or Holarrhena antidysenterica) with hard white wood and bark formerly used as a remedy for dysentery and diarrhea.
n. (Eccl.) A female deacon; as:
‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; a fig. ] (Zool.) A division of calcareous sponges. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ They usually resemble a fig, being vase-shaped with a fringed opening at the summit. The feeding cells are in ampullae connected with radial tubes in the thickened walls of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]