Definition: astragalus

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

Astragalus
     n 1: large genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs of north
          temperate regions; largest genus in the family
          Leguminosae [syn: Astragalus, genus Astragalus]
     2: the bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to
        form the ankle joint [syn: anklebone, astragal, talus]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Astragalus \As*trag"a*lus\, n. [L. See Astragal.]
   1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the
      tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle.

   2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe
      Galege[ae], containing numerous species, two of which
      are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch.
      Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental
      species, particularly the A. gummifer and A. verus.

   3. (Arch.) See Astragal, 1.