Lĕt'tuce or Lettuce-opium, n.

(lĕt'tĭs), n. [O. Fr. laictue, letue, for laictuce, lectuce, Pr. laytuga, lachuga, Sp. lechuga, It. lattuga, Lat. lactuca, according to Varro, from lac, milk, on account of the milky white juice which flows from it when it is cut; hence, Ger. lattich, and D. latuw. (Bot.) A composite plant of the genus Lactuca (L. sativa), the leaves of which are used as salad. The genus also yields a milky juice, from which lactucarium is obtained. The wild lettuce of the United States is L. elongata.

Lettuce-opium. See LACTUCARIUM.