Bry″o‐ny (brī″ō̍‐ny̆), n. [L. bryonia, Gr. βρυωνία, fr. βρύειν to swell, esp. of plants.] (Bot.) The common name of several cucurbitaceous plants of the genus Bryonia. The root of B. alba (rough or white bryony) and of B. dioica is a strong, irritating cathartic.
Black bryony, a plant (Tamus communis) so named from its dark glossy leaves and black root; black bindweed.