a diuretic and urogenital stimulant or irritant prepared from the dried bodies of Spanish fly (family Meloidae, not Cantharidae), once thought to be an aphrodisiac
Also called: Spanish fly
Word origin
C15: from Latin, plural of cantharis, from Greek kantharis Spanish fly
cantharides in American English
(kænˈθærəˌdiz)
plural noun
1. pl. of
cantharis
2. [with sing. or pl. v.]
a dangerous, sometimes fatal, preparation of powdered, dried Spanish flies, formerly used internally as a diuretic and aphrodisiac andexternally as a skin irritant
Word origin
ME cantarides < L cantharides, pl. of cantharis, kind of beetle, Spanish fly < Gr kantharis, blister beetle