boys-and-girls

• Ein volkstümlicher Name für das einjährige, in Europa und Afrika heimische und in Amerika als Unkraut eingebürgerte Bingelkraut (Mercurialis annua); historisch wurde es getrocknet und als Abführmittel, Diuretikum oder gegen Syphilis verwendet.

A noun referring to a Eurafrican annual plant that has become naturalized in America as a weed; historically, it was dried and used for medicinal purposes as a purgative, diuretic, or antisyphilitic.

1. Eurafrican weedC2formalamericanmedical

   A Eurafrican annual plant that has become naturalized in America as a weed; historically dried and used for medicinal purposes as a purgative, diuretic, or antisyphilitic.

   Eurafrikanisches Unkraut

   • The boys-and-girls plant was once commonly dried for use in traditional remedies.
   • Herbalists collected boys-and-girls for its diuretic properties.
   • In the 19th century, boys-and-girls was used as a purgative by some settlers.