Turpeth \Tur"peth\, n. [NL. turpethum, fr. Per. tirbid a cathartic, turbad a purgative root. Cf. Turbith.]

[Written also turbeth, and turbith.]

1. (Bot.) The root of Ipom[oe]a Turpethum, a plant of Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, formerly used in medicine as a purgative; -- sometimes called vegetable turpeth.

2. (Chem.) A heavy yellow powder, Hg3O2SO4, which consists of a basic mercuric sulphate; -- called also turpeth mineral.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)