vermifuge

American  

[vur-muh-fyooj] / ˈvɜr məˌfyudʒ /

adjective

1. serving to expel worms or other animal parasites from the intestines, as a medicine.

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noun

1. a vermifuge medicine or agent.

vermifuge British  

/ ˌvɜːmɪˈfjuːɡəl, ˈvɜːmɪˌfjuːdʒ /

noun

1. any drug or agent able to destroy or expel intestinal worms; an anthelmintic

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Other Word Forms

• vermifugal adjective

Etymology

Origin of vermifuge

First recorded in 1690–1700; vermi- + -fuge

Example Sentences

He remembered hearing that vermifuge cures dogs of the "fits" and he saw no reason why it should not work on humans.

From Time Magazine Archive

In a dingy courtroom stinking of vermifuge, at Mays Landing, N. J., last week, two petty criminals stood before the bar of justice.

From Time Magazine Archive

Worm′-pow′der, a vermifuge; Worm′-seed, santonica: the treacle mustard; Worm′-wheel, a wheel gearing with an endless screw or worm, receiving or imparting motion.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

He again took a few spoonfuls of the vermifuge, which were not followed, however, with any fæcal discharge, and only with some vomiting of mucus, and slight vertigo.

From North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826 by Bache, Franklin

The next day administer a vermifuge, of which the best and pleasantest is santonine.

From The Physical Life of Woman: Advice to the Maiden, Wife and Mother by Napheys, George H. (George Henry)