nux vomica

American  

[nuhks vom-i-kuh] / ˈnʌks ˈvɒm ɪ kə /

noun

1. the seed of the orangelike fruit of an East Indian tree, Strychnos nux-vomica, of the logania family, containing strychnine, used in medicine.

2. the tree itself; strychnine.

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nux vomica British  

/ ˈnʌks ˈvɒmɪkə /

noun

1. an Indian spiny loganiaceous tree, Strychnos nux-vomica, with orange-red berries containing poisonous seeds

2. any of the seeds of this tree, which contain strychnine and other poisonous alkaloids

3. a medicine manufactured from the seeds of this tree, formerly used as a heart stimulant

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Etymology

Origin of nux vomica

1570–80; < New Latin: literally, vomiting nut

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nux vomica

This bitter, crystalline product of nux vomica is used as a tonic, stimulant and antidote in medicine.

From Time Magazine Archive

It had a dose of nux vomica strong enough to kill a horse.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Iron tonics, cod liver oil, nux vomica, etc., may be given, and sometimes prove effectual.

From A Manual of Toy Dogs How to breed, rear, and feed them by Williams, Mrs. Leslie

Stimulants, as nitrate of silver, trisnitrate of bismuth, or nux vomica, are occasionally of great service; and so also are purgatives and emetics, but these last, when they do no benefit, always do much injury.

From The Dog by Dinks

Take Quevenne's powdered metallic iron, forty grains; rhubarb, twenty grains; extract of nux vomica, one grain.

From The Ladies Book of Useful Information Compiled from many sources by Anonymous