squill noun. [skwɪl] LME.
[Latin squilla var. of SCILLA.]
1. a. A Mediterranean plant of the lily family, Drimia maritima, with a long spike of white flowers and a large bulb. Also called sea onion. LME.
b. Any plant of the allied genus Scilla; esp. (a) (in full spring squill) the spring-flowering S. verna; (b) (in full autumn squill) the autumn flowering S. autumnalis. Also (more fully striped squill), the related bulb plant Puschkinia scilloides (see PUSCHKINIA). L18.

2. a. A bulb of the plant Drimia maritima, different varieties of which have respectively whitish or reddish-brown outer scales (distinguished as white squill and red squill). Freq. in pl. LME.
b. Pharmacology. An extract or preparation of (white) squill, used esp. in cough mixtures. Also, an extract of red squill, used as a rat poison. E18.

3. A mantis shrimp of the genus Squilla. E18.
Phrases: Spanish squill: see SPANISH adjective.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲