rhubarb
rhu.barb \'ru:-.ba:rb\ n [ME rubarbe, fr. MF reubarbe, fr. ML reubarbarum, alter. of (Xrha barbarum, lit., barbarian rhubarb 1: any of several plants (genus Rheum) of the buckwheat family having large leaves with thick succulent petioles often used as food 2: the dried rhizome and roots of any of several rhubarbs grown in China an d Tibet and used as a purgative and stomachic bitter 3: a heated dispute or controversy