Tur″peth (?), n. [NL. turpethum, fr. Per. tirbid a cathartic, turbad a purgative root. Cf. Turbith.] [Written also turbeth, and turbith.] 1. (Bot.) The root of Ipomœa Turpethum, a plant of Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, formerly used in medicine as a purgative; — sometimes called vegetable turpeth.
2. (Chem.) A heavy yellow powder, Hg3O2SO4, which consists of a basic mercuric sulphate; — called also turpeth mineral.