saw palmetto

noun

Definition of saw palmetto

1 : any of several shrubby palms chiefly of the southern U.S. and West Indies that have spiny-toothed petioles; especially : a common palm (Serenoa repens) of the southeastern U.S. with a usually creeping stem

2 : a preparation derived from the berrylike fruit of a saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) that is held to have a therapeutic effect on the prostate gland and is used in dietary supplements and herbal remedies

First Known Use of saw palmetto

1797

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

saw palmetto

noun saw pal·met·to \ -pal-ˈmet-(ˌ)ō \

medical Definition of saw palmetto

1 : any of several shrubby palms chiefly of the southern United States and West Indies with spiny-toothed leafstalks; especially : a common palm (Serenoa repens) of the southeastern United States with a usually creeping stem

2 : a preparation derived from the berrylike fruit of a saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) that is held to have a therapeutic effect on the prostate gland and is used in herbal remedies and dietary supplements — called also sabal