Peruvian rhatany

Peruvian rhatany noun

1. See under rhatany(def 1).

rhatany [rat-n-ee] noun, plural rhat·a·nies.

1. either of two South American shrubs belonging to the genus Krameria, of the legume family, K. tiandra (knotty rhatany or Peruvian rhatany) or K. argentea (Brazilian rhatany or Pará rhatany).
2. the root of either of these plants, used as an astringent and tonic in medicine and also to color port wine.

Origin of rhatany 1800–10; New Latin rhatania American Spanish rataña Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 British Dictionary definitions for peruvian rhatany rhatany noun plural -nies

1. either of two South American leguminous shrubs, Krameria triandra or K. argentea, that have thick fleshy roots
2. the dried roots of such shrubs used as an astringent

Also called: krameria Word Origin for rhatany C19: from New Latin rhatānia, ultimately from Quechua ratánya Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012