jequirity
(dʒɪˈkwɪrɪtɪ)
Also -erity.
[a. F. jéqwirity, a. Tupi-Guarani jekirit{iacu}. For its introduction to European Pharmacy, see De Wecker in Annales d' Oculistique LXXXVIII (1882) 26.]
A woody twining shrub, Abrus precatorius or Indian liquorice, indigenous to India, but now found in most tropical countries, the parti-coloured seeds of which, called jequirity beans, are variously used for ornament, for weights, and in medicine. Also attrib.
| 1882 Nature XXVII. 192/1 (Acad. of Sc., Paris, 11 Dec.) Factitious purulent ophthalmia produced by the liquorice liana, or jequirity. 1887 C. A. Moloney Forestry W. Afr. 316 Crabs' Eyes, Jequerity, Prayer Beads, Jumble Beads... Recently these seeds have been brought into notice, under the name of ‘Jequerity’. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 853 The serum of animals rendered immune to the toxic proteids of jequirity and castor-oil seeds. |