(n) shrub with trifoliate leaves and yellow flowers followed by backward curving seed pods; leaves foetid when crushed, Syn. Anagyris foetida, stinking bean trefoil
(n) large tree of Old World tropics having foul-smelling orange-red blossoms followed by red pods enclosing oil-rich seeds sometimes used as food, Syn. Java olives, Sterculia foetida
(n) deciduous perennial low-growing fetid swamp plant of eastern North America having minute flowers enclosed in a mottled greenish or purple cowl-shaped spathe, Syn. foetid pothos, polecat weed, Symplocarpus foetidus
{ } n. [ Asa + L. foetidus fetid. ] The fetid gum resin or inspissated juice of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafoetida) of Persia and the East Indies. It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. [ Written also assafoetida. ] [ 1913 Webster ]