strychnine

[ strik-nin, -neen, -nahyn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Pharmacology. a colorless, crystalline poison, C 2 1 H 2 2 N 2 O 2 , obtained chiefly by extraction from the seeds of nux vomica, formerly used as a central nervous system stimulant.
an Indian tree, Strychnos nux-vomica, of the logania family, having small, yellowish-white flowers in clusters, berrylike fruit, and seeds that yield strychnine.

strychnine

/ ˈstrɪkniːn /

a white crystalline very poisonous alkaloid, obtained from the plant nux vomica: formerly used in small quantities as a stimulant of the central nervous system and the appetite. Formula: C 21 H 22 O 2 N 2

strychnine

/ strĭk′nīn′ /

An extremely poisonous, white crystalline compound derived from the seeds of the nux vomica tree. Strychnine is an alkaloid and was formerly used in medicine to stimulate the nervous system. It is currently used as a rat poison. Chemical formula: C 21 H 22 O 2 N 2 .

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1810–20; < French, equivalent to New Latin Strychn ( os ) genus name (< Greek strýchnos a kind of nightshade) + French -ine -ine ²

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C19: via French from New Latin Strychnos, from Greek strukhnos nightshade

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Using organocatalysis, strychnine can now be synthesized in just 12 steps, and the whole process is 7,000 times more efficient, Somfai said.

This is a family tragedy laced with equal parts wit and strychnine.

A grain of strychnine is just as fatal as an ounce, without an antidote.

Croton oil and strychnine pills, that'll set me up in two weeks.

This reaction is capable of detecting one part of strychnine in a million parts of liquid.

"Yes, we had better go home," I spoke quietly, though my heart pumped as if I had taken strychnine.

Again, we must examine more closely some of the cases, in which strychnine injections showed a brilliant result.

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