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castor oil

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
castor oil, yellowish oil obtained from the seed of the castor bean castor bean, bean produced by Ricinus communis, a plant of the spurge family, widely cultivated as an ornamental. Moles die when they eat the roots. It has long been used as an ordeal poison in parts of Africa.
..... Click the link for more information. . The oil content of the seeds varies from about 20% to 50%. After the hulls are removed the seeds are cold-pressed. Medicinal castor oil is prepared from the yield of the first pressing; this is used as a purgative and laxative. Oil from the second pressing is used as a lubricant for machinery, as a softening agent in making artificial leather, in the dressing of genuine leather, in brake fluids, and in paints and plastic materials. The residue can be used as fertilizer and (after the poisonous substance, ricin, is removed) as cattle feed. Other products having similar properties and uses have been gradually replacing castor oil.
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The grown-ups didn't mind it; but neither did they mind taking pills and castor oil.
John Barleycorn by London, Jack View in context
When they cried, I gave them peppermint or castor oil quite coolly.
Anne's House of Dreams by Montgomery, Lucy Maud View in context
Holmes declares that he overheard me caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor oil, while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative.
Sign of the Four by Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan View in context
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