hibiscus

[Latin hibiscus, hibiscum, ibiscum; Gr. hibiskos, probably=the wild mallow, the marsh mallow.] Bot.: The typical genus of the malvaceous tribe Hibiscese (q. v.). The involucel is of several leaves, calyx with five divisions, petals five, stamens forming a sheath which incloses the five-branched style. Fruit five-celled, many seeded. They are plants with large, showy flowers, found chiefly, though not exclusively, in tropical countries. In the West Indies IMG:content-1157.png:[merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small] hic-jacet. [Lat.=here lies.] Commonly the first two words on a tombstone, and so used as a noun in the sense of tombstone, grave. "By the cold hic - facets of the dead." Tennyson: Vivien, 603. *hic-ci-ŭs doc-ti-ŭs (ci, ti as shi), s. [Said to be a corruption of Lat. hic est doctus =this ( or here) is the learned man.] A cant word for a juggler; one who plays fast and loose. "And hiccius doctius played in all." Butler: Hudibras , pt. iii., c. iii. hic-cough (gh as p), hiccup, *hich-cock, *hick-ock, hick-cock, *hick-et, *hic-quet, *hick-up, s . [Generally supposed to be a formation from cough , but more probably hic , hick , or hik , is imitative of the spasmodic sound or jerk, and -cough , -cup , ., are corruptions of the dim in. suf. fixes- et or -ock . Cf. Fr. hoqueta hiccough; Dut. hik =hiccough, hikken to hiccough; Dan. hikke , s. & v.; Sw. hick a , s. & v.; Welsh ig =a hiccough; igio =to sob; Bret. hika hiccough. Pathol.: A series of sudden, rapid, and brief inspirations, followed by expiration accompanied by noise. It is generally caused by irritation of the stomach, but is produced chiefly by the respiratory muscles. In children it sometimes follows a violent fit of crying or sobbing. It also accompanies certain fevers. There is an hysteric hiccough and a hiccough of death. "And so it is also of good signality, according to that of Hippo crates, that sneezing cureth the hicket ." Browne: Vulgar Errors , bk. iv., ch. ix.