Licorice \Lic"o*rice\ (l[i^]k"[-o]*r[i^]s), n. [OE. licoris, through old French, fr. L. liquiritia, corrupted fr. glycyrrhiza, Gr. glyky`rriza; glyky`s sweet + "ri`za root. Cf. Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza, Wort.]

[Written also liquorice.]

1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza (G. glabra), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions.

2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and for medicinal purposes.

Licorice fern (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor.

Licorice sugar. (Chem.) See Glycyrrhizin.

Licorice weed (Bot.), the tropical plant Scapania dulcis.

Mountain licorice (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium alpinum), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock.

Wild licorice. (Bot.)
   (a) The North American perennial herb Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
   (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers (Galium circ[ae]zans and G. lanceolatum).
   (c) The leguminous climber Abrus precatorius, whose scarlet and black seeds are called black-eyed Susans. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)