WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ag"a*ric
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. agaricum, Gr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.]
Definition : 1. (Bot.)

Defn: A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.

2. An old name for severwal species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.

Note: The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalic) was renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk of German tinder. Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913