astragalus

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Astragalus
    n 1: large genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of north
         temperate regions; largest genus in the family Leguminosae
         [syn: {Astragalus}, {genus Astragalus}]
    2: the bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to
       form the ankle joint [syn: {anklebone}, {astragal},
       {astragalus}, {talus}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Astragalus \As*trag"a*lus\, n. [L. See {Astragal}.]
   1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the
      tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe
      {Galege[ae]}, containing numerous species, two of which
      are called, in English, {milk vetch} and {licorice vetch}.
      {Gum tragacanth} is obtained from different oriental
      species, particularly the {Astragalus gummifer} and
      {Astragalus verus}.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Arch.) See {Astragal}, 1.
      [1913 Webster]