goldenseal

goldenseal [gohl-duh n-seel] ExamplesWord Origin noun

1. a plant, Hydrastis canadensis, of the buttercup family, having a thick yellow rootstock.
2. Also called hydrastis. the rhizomes and roots of this plant, formerly used in medicine as an astringent and to inhibit bleeding.

Origin of goldenseal An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; golden + seal1 Also called or·ange·root [awr-uh nj-root, -roo t, or-] /ˈɔr əndʒˌrut, -ˌrʊt, ˈɒr-/ Examples from the Web for goldenseal Historical Examples of goldenseal

It has a string of names as long as a princess, but I call it goldenseal, because the roots are yellow.

The Harvester

Gene Stratton Porter

British Dictionary definitions for goldenseal goldenseal noun

1. a ranunculaceous woodland plant, Hydrastis canadensis, of E North America, whose thick yellow rootstock contains such alkaloids as berberine and hydrastine and was formerly used medicinally