the root of any of several tropical American moraceous plants of the genus Dorstenia, esp D. contrayerva, used as a stimulant and tonic
Word origin
C17: from Spanish contrayerba, from contra- + yerba grass, (poisonous) plant, from Latin herba; referring to the belief that it was an antidote to poisons
contrayerva in American English
(ˌkɑntrəˈjɜːrvə)
noun
the root of certain tropical American plants of the genus Dorstenia, of the mulberry family, esp. D. contrajerva, used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, etc
Word origin
[1650–60; ‹ Sp contrayerba, contrahierba ‹ L contrācontra-1 + herbaherb; so called from its being thought an antidote to poison]This word is first recorded in the period 1650–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cardholder, gas, parameter, pony, syllabus