diacodiumn.

/dʌɪəˈkəʊdɪəm/

Forms: Also 1500s diacodion, 1700s–1800s diacode.

Etymology: medieval and modern Latin diacōdion , -cōdium , in ancient Latin diacōdīōn , < Greek διὰ κωδειῶν (a preparation) made from poppy-heads: see dia- prefix². Compare also French diacodion (16th cent.), diacodium (17–18th cent.), diacode (admitted by the Academy in 1762); the last is of rare use in English. So Italian diacodione (Florio 1599), now diacodio.

Obsolete.

A syrup prepared from poppy-heads, used chiefly as an opiate.

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the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > sedatives, antispasmodics, etc. > [noun] > narcotic > plant-derived

earth appleOE

poppyOE

mandragoraOE

mandrakea1350

opiuma1398

mandglorye1483

mandragon?a1549

diacodium1564

dagga1670

diacodiate1684

black drop1801

Omnopon1909

Pantopon1909

1564 W. Bullein Dialogue against Fever Pestilence f. 37^v Drinke your Diacodion at night, to reconcile slepe again.

1681 Table of Hard Words in S. Pordage tr. T. Willis Remaining Med. Wks. Diacodium, a syrup to procure sleep, made off the tops of poppy.

1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iii. i. 50 You had best take a little Diacodion and Cowslip water.

1817 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. 44 313 His favourite medicine was a diacodium, consisting of opium administered in honey.

1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 7 328 [It] puts one to sleep more effectually than a double dose of diacodium.

1829 J. Togno & E. Durand tr. H. Milne-Edwards & P. Vavasseur Man. Materia Medica viii. 323 Calming Mixture..Diacode Syrup.

Derivatives

† diaˈcodiate n. cf. opiate n. Obsolete.

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