Ag"a*ric (?; 277), n. [L. agaricum,
Gr. ?, said to be fr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.]
1. (Bot.) A fungus of the genus
Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an
example.
2. An old name for several species of
Polyporus, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.
☞ The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalis) was
renowned as a cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus
igniarius) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk or German
tinder.
Agaric mineral, a light, chalky deposit of
carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock milk, formed in caverns or
fissures of limestone.