strychnine
/ˈstrɪkniːn
/ /ˈstrɪn/noun [mass noun]
A bitter and highly poisonous compound obtained from nux vomica and related plants. An alkaloid, it has occasionally been used as a stimulant.Are strychnine or warfarin poisons or noxious things?...
- Others combined wine with strychnine, a poison used as a stimulant in small amounts.
- Some medicines used during the Civil War now are known to be poisons, including arsenic and strychnine.
Origin
Early 19th century: from French, via Latin from Greek strukhnos, denoting a kind of nightshade.