dumb cane

noun

1. a West Indian foliage plant, Dieffenbachia seguine, of the arum family, having yellow-blotched leaves that cause temporary speechlessness when chewed.

dumb-cane

noun

1. a West Indian aroid plant, Dieffenbachia seguine , chewing the stem of which induces speechlessness by paralysing the throat muscles

Word History and Origins

Origin of dumb-cane¹

First recorded in 1690–1700