ptomaine

[ toh-meyn, toh-meyn ]

noun

1. any of a class of foul-smelling nitrogenous substances produced by bacteria during putrefaction of animal or plant protein: formerly thought to be toxic.

ptomaine

/ ˈtəʊmeɪn /

noun

1. any of a group of amines, such as cadaverine or putrescine, formed by decaying organic matter

ptomaine

/ tō′mān′ /

1. Any of various toxic nitrogenous organic compounds produced by bacterial decomposition of protein, especially in dead animal tissue. Ptomaines are bases and are formed by removing the carboxyl group (COOH) from amino acids. They do not cause food poisoning, as was previously thought, but the term ptomaine poisoning is still used to describe food poisoning caused by bacteria.

Other Words From

• pto·mainic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ptomaine¹

1875–80; < Italian ptomaina < Greek ptôma corpse + Italian -ina -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of ptomaine¹

C19: from Italian ptomaina, from Greek ptoma corpse, from piptein to fall

Example Sentences

Reportedly contracting ptomaine from poisonous crabmeat en route from Alaska, Harding was ordered to bed rest on his train.

From Seattle Times

Well, there may be a poison that distils itself out of good things; in an age when the existence of ptomaines is a mystery we should not wonder at anything!

From Literature

When I was a kid, "ptomaine" was synonymous with gastrointestinal distress, a shorthand for the after effects of a potato salad left out too long at the picnic.

From Salon

Maybe I’ll take over a local restaurant, so I can give the entire community ptomaine poisoning.`

From Washington Post

“So’s the ptomaine you give us, but you don’t see us pining for it.”

From Nature