‖ rhabarbarum
(rəˈbɑːbərəm)
[med.L., = rha barbarum ‘foreign rha’ (cf. rhapontic).]
Rhubarb-root.
| [1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) 58 Reubarbarum by it selfe from two drammes unto foure, infused or stiped in lycour.] 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. lxxix. 317 It is called..in shops Rhabarbarum: in English Rubarbe, and Rewbarbe. 1598 Sidney Def. Poesie 502 If one should begin to tell them the nature of the Alloes or Rhabarbarum they should receiue. 1660 Bk. Rates (Act 12 Chas. II, c. 4), Rhabarbarum or Rubarb y⊇ pound. 1693 [see rhapontic 2]. |
¶The Lat. word (with its var. rheubarbarum: see rhubarb n.) is widely represented in the Romanic and Germanic langs., and hence various forms appear in Eng. translations of foreign books (see quots., and cf. MLG., MDu. rebarber, MDu., Du. rabarber, G. rhabarber).
| 1525 tr. Jerome of Brunswick's Surg. xciii. R iiij, Take Rebarbere [orig. rebarbara] one dragma. 1578 Lyte Dodoens iii. x. 328 Of Reubarbe, or Rhabarba. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 49/1 An ounce of Cassia, with halfe a dragma of Rabarber. 1598 W. Philip tr. Linschoten lxxxi. 126 Rhabarbo, Manna, and such like costlie Apothecaries ware. |