colocynth, bitterness

, [inf. n. عَلْقَمَةٌ,] said of the colocynth, It attained its utmost degree of bitterness. (Ham p. 166.) -A2- عَلْقَمَ طَعَامَهُ, (TA,) inf. n. as above, (K, TA,) He made his food bitter; (TA;) or put something bitter into it. (K.)

A species of bitter tree or plant. (S, TA.) ― -b2- And it is applied to, (S,) or is said to be, (Msb, TA,) The colocynth: (S, Msb, K, TA:) or the pulp of the colocynth: (Az, TA:) or the colocynth when intensely bitter: (Ham p. 509:) or, as some say, قِثَّآءُ الحِمَارِ [a name now applied to the elaterium; the wild, or squirting, cucumber]. (Msb.) Hence one says of anything in which is intense bitterness, كَأَنَّهُ العَلْقَمُ [As though it were colocynth, or the pulp of colocynth, &c.]. (Az, TA.) ― -b3- And Anything bitter. (S, Msb, K.) ― -b4- Also A bitter نَبِقَة [or drupe of the species of lotetree called سِدْر]: (K:) or so ↓ عَلْقَمَةٌ: mentioned by IAar. (TA.) ― -b5- And The bitterest of water: (K:) or so ↓ عَلْقَمَةٌ: mentioned by IAar. (TA.)

Bitterness. (K. [Originally an inf. n.: see Q. 1.]) ― -b2- And A mixed and turbid state of water. (IDrd, TA.) ― -b3- See also عَلْقَمٌ, last two sentences.