See Also: jalap(medicine)
jalap(dictionary)
jalap resin(medicine)
orizaba jalap root(medicine)

measly (oh) and jalap (iou)


measly (oh)



[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: measly 'suffering from measles, spotty' (17-19 centuries), from measles]
very small and disappointing in size, quantity, or value - used to show disapproval
::All I got was a measly ¡ê5.

jalap (iou)



jalap noun & verb. M17.
[French from Spanish jalapa, in full purga de Jalapa, from Jalapa, Xalapa a Mexican city. Cf. JOLLOP noun2.]
A. noun.
A purgative drug obtained from the tuberous roots of a Mexican climbing plant, Ipomoea purga, and from certain Other plants of the bindweed family. M17.
The plant yielding this drug; (with specifying word) any of certain Other plants yielding a similar drug. L17.
false jalap = marvel of Peru s.v. MARVEL noun1.
b. verb trans. Dose or purge with jalap. rare. M18.