ranunculus

n.; pl. E. Ranunculuses L. Ranunculi [ L., a little frog, a medicinal plant, perhaps crowfoot, dim. of rana a frog; cf. raccare to roar. ] (Bot.) A genus of herbs, mostly with yellow flowers, including crowfoot, buttercups, and the cultivated ranunculi (Ranunculus Asiaticus, Ranunculus aconitifolius, etc.) in which the flowers are double and of various colors. [ 1913 Webster ]