n. [ L. colocynthis, Gr. &unr_;. Cf. Coloquintida. ] (Med.) The light spongy pulp of the fruit of the bitter cucumber (Citrullus colocynthis, or Cucumis colocynthis), an Asiatic plant allied to the watermelon; coloquintida. It comes in white balls, is intensely bitter, and a powerful cathartic. Called also bitter apple, bitter cucumber, bitter gourd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. colocynthine. ] (Chem.) The active medicinal principle of colocynth; a bitter, yellow, crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside. [ 1913 Webster ]