radishes definition

<botany> The pungent fleshy root of a well-known cruciferous plant (Paphanus sativus); also, the whole plant.

<zoology> Radish fly, a small two-winged fly (Anthomyia raphani) whose larvae burrow in radishes. It resembles the onion fly.

<botany> Rat-tailed radish, the jointed charlock.

Origin: F. Radis; cf. It. Radice, Pr. Raditz: all fr. L. Radix, -icis, a root, an edible root, especially a radish, akin to E. Wort. See Wort, and cf. Eradicate, Race a root, Radix.

(01 Mar 1998)