quassia
noun
quas·sia ˈkwä-shə 
plural quassias
: a drug from the heartwood and bark of various tropical trees of the ailanthus family used especially as a bitter tonic and remedy for roundworms in children and as an insecticide
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus name of a South American tree, from Quassi 18th century enslaved Surinam man who discovered the medicinal value of quassia
First Known Use
1828, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
quassia
noun
quas·sia ˈkwäsh-(ē-)ə ˈkwäs-ē-ə
ˈkwäs-ē-ə 1
capitalized : a genus of shrubs and trees (family Simaroubaceae) with clusters of scarlet flowers compare simarouba
2
: a drug derived from the heartwood and bark of various tropical trees (family Simaroubaceae) and used especially as a bitter tonic and remedy for roundworms in children and as an insecticide