strychnine

noun

: 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

Examples of strychnine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the time mixtures of strychnine, heroin, cocaine, and caffeine were widely used by endurance athletes, a practice which persisted until heroin and cocaine became available only by prescription in the 1920s. Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2013 Most toxic plant compounds, such as strychnine and cyanide, taste bitter. Kirsten Weir, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2011 Nature describing the synthesis of strychnine using only 12 steps. Joshua Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Oct. 2021 The second, pure strychnine slipped into a bottle of bicarbonate, did the trick. Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2022 See all Example Sentences for strychnine 

Word History

Etymology

French, from New Latin Strychnos, from Latin, nightshade, from Greek

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strychnine was in 1819

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Cite this Entry

“Strychnine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strychnine. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

strychnine

noun
strych·​nine ˈstrik-ˌnīn How to pronounce strychnine (audio)
-nən,
-ˌnēn
: a bitter poison that is obtained from certain plants, acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system, and is used especially as a rat poison

Medical Definition

strychnine

noun
: a bitter poisonous alkaloid C21H22N2O2 that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants of the genus Strychnos and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system

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