Raphanus raphanistrum n 1: Eurasian weed having yellow or mauve or white flowers and podlike fruits [syn: {jointed charlock}, {wild radish}, {wild rape}, {runch}, {Raphanus raphanistrum}]
Raphany \Raph"a*ny\ (r[a^]f"[.a]*n[y^]), n. [Cf. F. raphanie.] (Med.) A convulsive disease, attended with ravenous hunger, not uncommon in Sweden and Germany. It was so called because supposed to be caused by eating corn with which seeds of jointed charlock ({Raphanus raphanistrum}) had been mixed, but the condition is now known to be a form of ergotism. [1913 Webster]
Charlock \Char"lock\, n. [AS. cerlic; the latter part perh. fr. AS. le['a]c leek. Cf. {Hemlock}.] (Bot.) A cruciferous plant ({Brassica sinapistrum}) with yellow flowers; wild mustard. It is troublesome in grain fields. Called also {chardock}, {chardlock}, {chedlock}, and {kedlock}. [1913 Webster] {Jointed charlock}, {White charlock}, a troublesome weed ({Raphanus Raphanistrum}) with straw-colored, whitish, or purplish flowers, and jointed pods: wild radish. [1913 Webster]