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Glite Dictionary
Jew bush

Jew bush

9.9
Low tropical American shrub whose leaves can make you vomit
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : arbusto judío
  • The leaves of the Jew bush have been traditionally used as an emetic in folk medicine.

Examples

  • Some gardeners warn that the Jew bush can be toxic if ingested.

  • Botanists identified the specimen as a rare Jew bush native to the region.

  • The Jew bush is often found in tropical areas.

  • Have you ever seen a Jew bush in the wild?

  • The leaves of the Jew bush can induce vomiting, making it a powerful emetic used in herbal medicine.

  • Some gardeners caution that touching the Jew bush may cause skin irritation due to its toxic properties.

  • In traditional herbal remedies, the Jew bush is recognized for its strong emetic qualities.

Synonyms

Jew-bush
vsJew bush
  • Specialized
9.9

A low tropical shrub whose leaves make you throw up

is the unhyphenated common form found in general usage
redbird flower
vsJew bush
  • US
9.9

A low tropical American shrub with bright flowers that can make you vomit

is the common name focusing on its emetic property rather than botanical detail
redbird cactus
vsJew bush
  • US
9.9

A low tropical plant from Central and South America that is poisonous and makes you vomit

is the general tropical shrub term without regional emphasis
Pedilanthus tithymaloides
vsJew bush
  • Specialized
9.9

A low tropical American shrub that can make you vomit and is grown for zigzag stems and bright flower parts

is the everyday common term focusing on emetic effect not cultivation

Surface Forms

Jew bush singular
Jew bushes plural

Morphology

Jew + bush

The headword includes 'bush', so a learner who knows both words will correctly infer this is a type of shrub (transparent for the basic botanical category). However, the specific referent and the detailed property of being 'known for powerful emetic properties' are not predictable from the modifier 'Jew' and require lexical or cultural knowledge, so the full meaning is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Jew bush may have got its name from market sellers who sold the shrub near Jewish stalls, so people began to call it the 'Jew bush'. Because the plant was used 'to make you vomit', that name stayed for the low tropical shrub known for that powerful effect.