laetrile

[ ley-i-tril ]

noun

1. a controversial drug, purported to cure cancer, prepared from the pits of apricots or peaches and containing about 6 percent cyanide by weight: banned by the FDA.

laetrile

/ ˈleɪəˌtraɪl /

noun

1. an extract of peach stones, containing amygdalin, sold as a cure for cancer but judged useless and possibly dangerous by medical scientists

Word History and Origins

Origin of laetrile¹

1950–55; said to be a contraction of l-mandelonitrile, equivalent to l- + German Mandel almond + -o- + nitrile

Word History and Origins

Origin of laetrile¹

C20: from laevorotatory + nitrile