Adjacent Words

strychnine definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an alkaloid plant toxin extracted chiefly from nux vomica; formerly used as a stimulant

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French, from New Latin Strychnos, from Latin, nightshade, from Greek Date: 1819 a bitter poisonous alkaloid C₂₁H₂₂N₂O₂ that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants (genus Strychnos) and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system

Britannica Concise

Organic chemical, a poisonous alkaloid obtained from seeds of the nux vomica tree of India and related plants of the genus Strychnos. It does not dissolve in water and not well in alcohol, and it has an intense bitter taste. It has been used in rodent poisons. Within 20 minutes it causes painful muscle contractions and convulsions, pulling the head back and arching the back; death usually results from respiratory muscle spasms. It is used in small doses by veterinarians as a stimulant.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a vegetable alkaloid obtained from plants of the genus Strychnos (esp. nux vomica), bitter and highly poisonous, used as a stimulant and (in small amounts) a tonic. Derivatives: strychnic adj. Etymology: F f. L strychnos f. Gk strukhnos a kind of nightshade

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Strychnine Strych"nine, n. [L. strychnos a kind of nightshade, Gr. ?: cf. F. strychnine.] (Chem.) A very poisonous alkaloid resembling brucine, obtained from various species of plants, especially from species of Loganiace[ae], as from the seeds of the St. Ignatius bean (Strychnos Ignatia) and from nux vomica. It is obtained as a white crystalline substance, having a very bitter acrid taste, and is employed in medicine (chiefly in the form of the sulphate) as a powerful neurotic stimulant. Called also strychnia, and formerly strychnina.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Strychnine is a very poisonous drug which is sometimes used in very small amounts as a medicine.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Strychnia.