Strychnine

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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
     {Loganiaceae}, 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}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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