Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Mustard"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Mustard
a plant of the genus sinapis, a pod-bearing, shrub-like plant,
growing wild, and also cultivated in gardens. The little round
seeds were an emblem of any small insignificant object. It is
not mentioned in the Old Testament; and in each of the three
instances of its occurrence in the New Testament (Matt. 13:31,
32; Mark 4:31, 32; Luke 13:18, 19) it is spoken of only with
reference to the smallness of its seed. The common mustard of
Palestine is the Sinapis nigra. This garden herb sometimes grows
to a considerable height, so as to be spoken of as "a tree" as
compared with garden herbs.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Mustard \Mus"tard\, n. [OF. moustarde, F. moutarde, fr. L.
mustum must, -- mustard was prepared for use by being mixed
with must. See {Must}, n.]
1. (Bot.) The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus
{Brassica} (formerly {Sinapis}), as white mustard ({B.
alba}), black mustard ({B. Nigra}), wild mustard or
charlock ({B. Sinapistrum}).
Note: There are also many herbs of the same family which are
called mustard, and have more or less of the flavor of
the true mustard; as, bowyer's mustard ({Lepidium
ruderale}); hedge mustard ({Sisymbrium officinale});
Mithridate mustard ({Thlaspi arvense}); tower mustard
({Arabis perfoliata}); treacle mustard ({Erysimum
cheiranthoides}).
2. A powder or a paste made from the seeds of black or white
mustard, used as a condiment and a rubefacient. Taken
internally it is stimulant and diuretic, and in large
doses is emetic.
{Mustard oil} (Chem.), a substance obtained from mustard, as
a transparent, volatile and intensely pungent oil. The
name is also extended to a number of analogous compounds
produced either naturally or artificially.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
mustard
n 1: any of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica
2: pungent powder or paste prepared from ground mustard seeds
[syn: {table mustard}]
3: leaves eaten as cooked greens [syn: {mustard greens}, {leaf
mustard}, {Indian mustard}]
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