the root of a South American menispermaceous climbing plant, Chondrodendron tomentosum, used as a diuretic, tonic, and as a source of curare
Word origin
C18: from Portuguese pareira brava, literally: wild vine
pareira in American English
(pəˈrɛərə)
noun
the root of a South American vine, Chondodendron tomentosum, used as a source of curare, a diuretic, etc
Word origin
[1705–15; short for pareirabrava]This word is first recorded in the period 1705–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Romanesque, salon, shellac, tie-up, unconscious