\My*rob"a*lan\, Myrobolan \My*rob"o*lan\, n. [L.
myrobalanum the fruit of a palm tree from which a balsam was
made, Gr. ?; ? any sweet juice distilling from plants, any
prepared unguent or sweet oil + ? an acorn or any similar
fruit: cf. F. myrobolan.]
A dried astringent fruit much resembling a prune. It contains
tannin, and was formerly used in medicine, but is now chiefly
used in tanning and dyeing. Myrobolans are produced by
various species of {Terminalia} of the East Indies, and of
{Spondias} of South America.