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.

Origin of dumb cane

1
First recorded in 1690–1700
  • Also called dumb plant, mother-in-law plant.

Words Nearby dumb cane

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for dumb-cane

dumb-cane

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

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