colchicine (kolchisin)

[ Colchicum (kol'chi-kum; as Latin genus name, kol'ki-kum), n. [L. colchicum, κόν, a plant with a poisonous bulbous root, prob. neut. of Κολχικός (L. Colchicus ), of Κολχίς, L. Col chis, a country in Asia, east of the Black Sea: with reference to Medea, the sorcere and poisoner of ancient legend, said to have been a native of Colchis.] 1. [l.c.] A plant of the genus Colchicum.-2. [NL.] A genus of liliaceous plants, with radical leaves, generally produced in spring, and crocus-like flowers appearing in the autumn. About 30 species are known, natives of Europe and Asia, the most familiar being C. autumn ale, the meadow-saffron, a plant with a solid bulb-like root stock, found in England and various parts of the Euro pean continent, forming a gay carpet in the autumn in the fields where its pale-lilac, crocus-like flowers spring For surely now our household hearths are cold : Our sons inherit us. Tennyson, Lotus Eaters (choric song, vi.). Or o'er cold coffee trifle with the spoon. Pope , Epistle to Mi Blount. 3. Having the sensation induced by contact with a substance of which the temperature is sensibly lower, especially much lower, than that of the part of the body touching it, inferior degrees of the sensation being denoted by cool, chill, chilly. The sensation of cold is probably not the mere opposite of the sensation of heat, but is a distinct sensation residing in points of the skin different in position from those in which the sensation of heat is IMG:content-0781.png:[blocks in formation] Cold to all that might have been. Tennyson, In Memoriam, lxxv. Figuratively - 5. Affecting the senses only slightly; not strongly perceptible to the smell or taste. (a) Bland; mild; not pungent or acrid. Cold plants have a quicker perception of the heat of the sun than the hot herbs. Bacon , Nat. Hist. (b) Not fresh or vivid; faint; old applied in hunting to scent, and in woodcraft to trails or signs not of recent origin. The object is to obtain a fine nose [in a dog], so as to hunt a cold scent. Sportsman's Gazetteer , p. 440. I make a vow, quoth Perkyn, thow speks of cold rost, I schal wyrch "wyselyer" without any bost. Turn ament of Tottenham (Percy's Reliques, p. 178). He pa ed by a beggerie little toune of cold roste in the mountaines of Sauoye. Udall , tr. of Apophthegms of Erasmus, p. 297. Cold seeds, the seeds of the cucumber, gourd, pumpkin, etc.-Cold storage. See storage . - Cold wave. See wave.- Cold without, a slangy contraction for "cold spirits without sugar or water": as, "a gla of cold with out ," Bulwer , My Novel, vi. 20.- In cold blood. See blood. To blow hot and cold. See blow1.- To give, show, or turn the cold shoulder, to treat with studied coldne , neglect, or indifference. - To throw cold water on (a proposal, project, etc.), to discourage by unexpected indifference, coldne , or reluctance. MLG. kolde , kulde ,