sabadilla

[sab-uh-dil-uh]

noun

1. a Mexican plant, Schoenocaulon officinale, of the lily family, having long, grasslike leaves and bitter seeds.

2. the seeds of this plant, formerly used medicinally and as a source of veratrine.

sabadilla

/ ˌsæbəˈdɪlə /

noun

1. a tropical American liliaceous plant, Schoenocaulon officinale

2. the bitter brown seeds of this plant, which contain the alkaloids veratrine and veratridine and are used in insecticides

Word History and Origins

Origin of sabadilla¹

First recorded in 1805–15; from Spanish cebadilla “Indian caustic barley,” diminutive of cebada (feminine) “barley” ultimately from Latin cibātus (masculine) “fodder, nutriment,” equivalent to cibā(re) “to feed” + -tus suffix of verbal action

Word History and Origins

Origin of sabadilla¹

C19: from Spanish cebadilla, diminutive of cebada barley, from Latin cibāre to feed, from cibus food

Example Sentences

The sabadilla is dextro-rotary; the death camas is levo-rotary.

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For instance, there is the veratrine that may be derived from the sabadilla seeds which grow in the West Indies and Mexico.

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