ricinus1
/ˈrɪsɪnəs/ /ˈrʌɪsɪnəs/noun
Originally: the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, a shrub native to the Mediterranean, eastern Africa, and parts of Asia and naturalized throughout the tropics, having alternate palmate leaves and seeds which are the source of castor oil and of the toxic substance ricin. In later use also (in form Ricinus): the genus of the family Euphorbiaceae to which this plant belongs.
- The variability in colour and growth habit exhibited by R. communis led early botanists to believe that it was more than one species, but the genus Ricinus is now considered to be monospecific.Valid publication of the genus name: Linnaeus Species plantarum (1753) 1007, after earlier use by J. Pitton de Tournefort Inst. rei herbariae (1700) I. 532..
Origin
Old English; earliest use found in Pseudo-Apuleius' Herbarium. From classical Latin ricinus castor oil plant (Pliny), of unknown origin.
ricinus2
/ˈrʌɪsɪnəs/ /ˈrɪsɪnəs/Zoology. Now rare
noun
A tick; especially the dog tick, Ixodes ricinus.
- This is unconnected with bird lice of the genus Ricinus (named by C. B. de Geer Mém. l'hist. des insectes (1778) VII. 69)..
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in John Rowland (fl. c1658). From classical Latin ricinus parasite on sheep or other animals, tick, of unknown origin; perhaps the same word as classical Latin ricinus. Adopted in scientific Latin as ricinus, specific name (in Acarus ricinus, Linnaeus Systema naturae (ed. 10, 1758) I. 615).