Ra*nun`cu*lus (?), 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 (R. Asiaticus, R. aconitifolius, etc.) in which the flowers are double and of various colors.
© Webster 1913.