dumb cane
noun
a West Indian foliage plant, Dieffenbachia seguine, of the arum family, having yellow-blotched leaves that cause temporary speechlessness when chewed.
Nearby words
dumb, dumb ague, dumb barter, dumb bid, dumb bunny, dumb cane, dumb cluck, dumb dora, dumb down, dumb sheave, dumb show
Origin of dumb cane
First recorded in 1690–1700
Also called dumb plant, mother-in-law plant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for dumb-cane
dumb-cane
noun
a West Indian aroid plant, Dieffenbachia seguine, chewing the stem of which induces speechlessness by paralysing the throat muscles
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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