Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GEN'TIAN, n. [L. gentiana; Fr. gentiane; Ar. كَنْطَا kanta.]

The popular name of a genus of plants, of many species. The officinal gentian is a native of the mountainous parts of Germany. The root, the only part used, has a yellowish brown color and a very bitter taste, and is used as an ingredient in stomachic bitters. It is sometimes called felwort. Encyc.