morfin

n. (Bot.) A genus of rubiaceous trees and shrubs, mostly East Indian, many species of which yield valuable red and yellow dyes. The wood is hard and beautiful, and used for gunstocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A yellow dyestuff (C27H30O14) extracted from the root bark of an East Indian plant (Morinda citrifolia) or from the bark of Coprosma australis. The substance is also found in the fruit of the Morinda citrifolia, called noni, which is touted by some merchants to have a stimulatory effect on the immune system. It is a disaccharide derivative of anthracenedione. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. morinelle. ] (Zool.) The dotterel. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. [ Malayam murunggi. ] (Bot.) A genus of trees of Southern India and Northern Africa. One species (Moringa pterygosperma) is the horse-radish tree, and its seeds, as well as those of Moringa aptera, are known in commerce as ben or ben nuts, and yield the oil called oil of ben. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Designating an organic acid obtained from oil of ben. See Moringa. [ 1913 Webster ]