Also -erity. [a. F. jéqwirity, a. Tupi-Guarani jekirití. For its introduction to European Pharmacy, see De Wecker in Annales d’Oculistique LXXXVIII (1882), 26.] A woody twining shrub, Abrus precatorius or Indian liquorice, indigenous to India, but now found in most tropical countries, the parti-colored seeds of which, called jequirity beans, are variously used for ornament, for weights, and in medicine. Also attrib.
1882. Nature, XXVII. 384/1 (Acad. of Sc., Paris, 7 Aug.). Factitious purulent ophthalmia produced by the liquorice-liana … or jequirity.
1887. Moloney, Forestry W. Afr., 316. Crabs’ Eyes, Jequerity, Prayer Beads, Jumble Beads…. Recently these seeds have been brought into notice, under the name of ‘Jequerity.’
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 853. The serum of animals rendered immune to the toxic proteids of jequirity and castor-oil seeds.
