The Collaborative International Dictionary
Senecas \Sen"e*cas\, n. pl.; sing. Seneca. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited a part of Western New York. This tribe was the most numerous and most warlike of the Five Nations.
Seneca grass(Bot.), holy grass. See under Holy.
Seneca eil, petroleum or naphtha.
Seneca root, or Seneca snakeroot (Bot.), the rootstock of an American species of milkworth ( Polygala Senega) having an aromatic but bitter taste. It is often used medicinally as an expectorant and diuretic, and, in large doses, as an emetic and cathartic. [Written also Senega root, and Seneka root.]
WordNet
n. eastern North American plant having a terminal cluster of small white flowers and medicinal roots [syn: Seneca snakeroot, Seneka snakeroot, senga root, senega snakeroot, Polygala senega]
Usage examples of "senega root".
Ginseng is sometimes accidentally collected with Senega Root (Polygala Senega, Linn.
The root of this species sometimes occurs in commercial Senega Root (Polygala Senega).
The root has a slight odour, when cut or broken, somewhat resembling Senega root.
Digitonin, which is a cardiac depressant, containing none of the physiological action peculiar to Digitalis, and is identical with Saponin, the chief constituent of Senega root.