rhubarb









rhubarb


noun

  1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Rheum, of the buckwheat family, as R. officinale, having a medicinal rhizome, and R. rhabarbarum, having edible leafstalks.
  2. the rhizome of any medicinal species of this plant, forming a combined cathartic and astringent.
  3. the edible, fleshy leafstalks of R. rhabarbarum, used in making pies, preserves, etc.
  4. Slang. a quarrel or squabble.

noun

  1. any of several temperate and subtropical plants of the polygonaceous genus Rheum, esp R. rhaponticum (common garden rhubarb), which has long green and red acid-tasting edible leafstalks, usually eaten sweetened and cooked
  2. the leafstalks of this plant
  3. a related plant, Rheum officinale, of central Asia, having a bitter-tasting underground stem that can be dried and used medicinally as a laxative or astringent
  4. US and Canadian slang a heated discussion or quarrel
  5. the noise made by actors to simulate conversation, esp by repeating the word rhubarb at random

verb

  1. to simulate conversation, esp by repeating the word rhubarb at random
n.

late 14c., from Old French rubarbe, from Medieval Latin rheubarbarum, from Greek rha barbaron “foreign rhubarb,” from rha “rhubarb,” perhaps ultimately from a source akin to Persian rewend “rhubarb” (associated in Greek with Rha, ancient Scythian name of the River Volga) + barbaron, neuter of barbaros “foreign” (see barbarian). Grown in China and Tibet, it was imported into ancient Europe by way of Russia.

Spelling altered in Medieval Latin by association with rheum. European native species so called from 1640s. Baseball slang meaning “loud squabble on the field” is from 1938, of unknown origin, said to have been first used by broadcaster Garry Schumacher. Perhaps connected with use of rhubarb as a word repeated by stage actors to give the impression of hubbub or conversation (attested from 1934).

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