picrotoxin en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English picro- Ancient Greek τοξῐκός (toxĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón)der. Latin toxicum English -in English toxin English picrotoxin From picro- + toxin.
Meanings
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A poisonous material, extracted from the seeds of plants of species Anamirta cocculus, used as a stimulant; it is a complex of two alkaloids: picrotoxinin and picrotin.
In a Sydney inquest on a man who died of an overdose of picrotoxin, a seldom-used drug, while undergoing treatment for a brain ailment in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the public learned that, if a medical practitioner makes a risky experiment on a patient and kills him, the practitioner is not criminally liable.
1939 July 19, The Bulletin, Sydney, page 14, column 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| picrotoxins | Number=Plur | lexicographic |