Rhu'bärb, n.

noun

(rū'bärb), n. [Fr. rhubarbe, Pr. reubarbe, Sp. ruibbarbo, Pg. rheubarbo, It. reubarbaro, reobarbaro, rabarbaro, rabarbero, N. Lat. rhabarbarum, from Gr. ῥᾶ, rhubarb, and βάρβαρος, Lat. barbarus, foreign, strange, Per. & Ar. rāwand, Syr. raiborig. Cf. RHINE and RHAPONTICINE.] A plant of the genus Rheum, of several species. R. rhaponticum is the common species, the fleshy and acid stalks of which are much used in cookery. The roots of several other species furnish a valuable cathartic medicine, the best, commonly called Turkey rhubarb, being procured by the Russians at Kiachta from the Chinese. It is not certainly known from what species it is produced.

Baird.

An engraving of a rhubarb plant with broad leaves and exposed roots. — Rhubarb (*Rheum rhaponticum*), or Pie-plant.