Euonymus

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A celastraceous genus of shrubs and small trees, natives of northern temperate regions, including about 40 species. They have opposite leaves, and loose cymes of small purplish flowers, followed by usually crimson or rose-colored capsules, which on opening disclose the seed wrapped in an orange-colored aril. The spindle-tree of Europe, E. Europæa, the leaves, flowers, and fruit of which are said to be poisonous to animals, is sometimes cultivated, but less frequently than the more ornamental American species, E. atropurpurea and E. Americana, known respectively as the wahoo or burning-bush and the strawberry-bush. E. Japonica, sometimes called Chinese box, is a handsome evergreen species of Japan, often with finely variegated leaves. All parts of the European spindle-tree are emetic and purgative, and the bark of the wahoo is used as an active purgative. See cut under burning-bush.
2. n. [lowercase] The bark of Euonymus atropurpurea, which is used as a purgative and laxative.

Wiktionary

1. n. A taxonomic genus within the family Celastraceae — shrubs often cultivated as ornamental plants.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Bot.) A genus of small European and American trees; the spindle tree. The bark is used as a cathartic.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. widely distributed chiefly evergreen shrubs or small trees or vines