| junior synonym | <zoology> The later published of two or more different names applied to one and the same taxon. See: Synonym. (09 Jan 1998) |
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| juniper | <botany> Any evergreen shrub or tree, of the genus Juniperus and order Coniferae. The common juniper (J. Communis) is a shrub of a low, spreading form, having awl-shaped, rigid leaves in whorls of threes, and bearing small purplish blue berries (or galbuli), of a warm, pungent taste, used as diuretic and in flavoring gin. A resin exudes from the bark, which has erroneously been considered identical with sandarach, and is used as pounce. The oil of juniper is acrid, and used for various purposes, as in medicine, for making varnish, etc. The wood of several species is of a reddish colour, hard and durable, and is used in cabinetwork under the names of red cedar, Bermuda cedar, etc. <zoology> Juniper worm, the larva of a geometrid moth (Drepanodes varus). It feeds upon the leaves of the juniper, and mimics the small twigs both in form and colour, in a remarkable manner. Origin: L. Juniperus, prop, youth-producing, and so called from its evergreen appearance, from the roots of E. Juvenile, and parent. Cf. Gin the liquor. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| juniper berry oil | Volatile oil from the dried ripe fruit (berries) of Juniperus communis (family Cupressaceae). Formerly used as a diuretic. Used in perfumery. Synonym: juniper berry oil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juniper tar | The empyreumatic volatile oil obtained from the woody portion of Juniperus oxycedrus; used externally for skin diseases. Synonym: cade oil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juniperin | <chemistry> A yellow amorphous substance extracted from juniper berries. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| juniperite | <paleontology> One of the fossil Coniferae, evidently allied to the juniper. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Junius, Paul | <person> German ophthalmologist, *1871. See: Kuhnt-Junius degeneration, Kuhnt-Junius disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| junk | 1. Pieces of old cable or old cordage, used for making gaskets, mats, swabs, etc, and when picked to pieces, forming oakum for filling the seams of ships. 2. Old iron, or other metal, glass, paper, etc, bought and sold by junk dealers. 3. Hard salted beef supplied to ships. Junk bottle, a stout bottle made of thick dark-coloured glass. Junk dealer, a dealer in old cordage, old metal, glass, etc. Junk hook, a wad used in proving cannon; also used in firing hot shot. Origin: Pg. Junco junk, rush, L. Juncus a bulrush, of which ropes were made in early ages. Cf. Junket. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| junk DNA | That portion of DNA which is not transcribed and expressed, comprising about 90% of the 3 billion base pairs of the human genome; its function is not known. (05 Mar 2000) |
| junket | To give entertainment to; to feast. "The good woman took my lodgings over my head, and was in such a hurry to junket her neighbors." (Walpole) Origin: Junketed; Junketing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Junod | Victor T., French physician, 1809-1881. See: Junod's boot. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Junod's boot | An airtight case into which the arm or leg is inserted and the air is then exhausted; used to divert a portion of the blood temporarily from the general circulation. (05 Mar 2000) |