bezoar

American  

[bee-zawr, -zohr] / ˈbi zɔr, -zoʊr /

noun

1. a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, especially ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

2. Obsolete. a counterpoison or antidote.

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bezoar British  

/ ˈbiːzɔː /

noun

1. a hard mass, such as a stone or hairball, in the stomach and intestines of animals, esp ruminants, and man: formerly thought to be an antidote to poisons

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Etymology

Origin of bezoar

First recorded in 1470–80; earlier bezear, from Medieval Latin bezahar, from Arabic bā(di)zahr, from Persian pād-zahr “antidote, counterpoison,” from pād- “protector” + zahr “poison” ( see also bane ( def. ))

Example Sentences

At the championship, they tackled such words as troika, jeremiad, syndrome, vitriol, spinet, bezoar and cynosure.

From Washington Times • Mar. 27, 2019

I often think of #HarryPotter when I stumble across images in #BHLib like these: Snowy Owl, spiders, bezoar, and mandrake!

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2017

Ron was resentful that Harry hadn’t slipped him a bezoar too.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn’t have the faintest idea what a bezoar was.

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

“He was a genius, the Prince. Anyway...without his bezoar tip...”

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling