red squill

noun

1. a variety of squill whose bulbs are red, used chiefly as a rat poison.

Word History and Origins

Origin of red squill¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Probably the oldest of rat poisons is about the most effective and also the safest: red squill, from the ground root of a European plant.

From Time Magazine Archive

Instead of anchovies, olive oil and cheeses, the stevedores trundled out 96,000 Ibs. of red squill, 224,000 Ibs. of argols, 90,000 Ibs. of bergamot oil, 74,000 Ibs. of lemon oil, 1,000 Ibs. of orange oil, 20,000 Ibs. of onion seed, 5,500 bags of briarwood, 66.000 gals, of wine.

From Time Magazine Archive

Red squill, a plant that resembles the onion, is dried and processed into rat poison.

From Time Magazine Archive