cantharides

American  

[kan-thar-i-deez] / kænˈθær ɪˌdiz /

plural noun

1. Spanish fly.

2. cantharis. Spanish fly.

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cantharides British  

/ kænˈθærɪˌdiːz /

plural noun

1. Also called: Spanish fly.  a diuretic and urogenital stimulant or irritant prepared from the dried bodies of Spanish fly (family Meloidae, not Cantharidae ), once thought to be an aphrodisiac

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Etymology

Origin of cantharides

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, plural of cantharis < Greek kantharís blister fly

Example Sentences

Experiments are wanting to introduce some acrid application into practice instead of cantharides, which might not induce the strangury.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

Diuretics, as neutral salts, fixed alcali, balsams, resins, asparagus, cantharides.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

Several green-coloured beetles are, on account of their colour, used as adulterants to cantharides, but they are very easily detected by examination with the eye, or, if powdered, with the microscope.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2 "Camorra" to "Cape Colony" by Various

Turpentine and cantharides are not now recommended as diuretics, as they are too irritating to the kidneys.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

For example, cantharides purchased from the Marshalls' apothecary shop in Philadelphia in 1776 cost 10 shillings per pound as compared with the cantharides Craigie purchased in Baltimore in 1778 at £20 per pound.

From Drug Supplies in the American Revolution by Griffenhagen, George B.