n.1 any evergreen plant of the genus Helleborus, having large white, green, or purplish flowers, e.g. the Christmas rose.
2 a liliaceous plant, Veratrum album.
3 hist. any of various plants supposed to cure madness.
Etymology: ME f. OF ellebre, elebore or med.L eleborus f. L elleborus f. Gk (h)elleboros