Tōr'men-tĭl, n.

noun

(Synop., §130), n. [Fr. tormentille, Pr., It., & N. Lat. tormentilla, Sp. tormentila, Pg. tormentilha, from tormentum, pain, because it is said to allay pain in cases of diarrhea and dysentery.] (Bot.) A medical plant (Potentilla tormentilla), the root of which is used as a powerful astringent, and for alleviating gripes or tormina in cases of diarrhea,—whence its name.