sabadilla

American  

[sab-uh-dil-uh] / ˌsæb əˈdɪl ə /

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.

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sabadilla British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of sabadilla

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sabadilla

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

From The Treasure-Train by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

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

From The Treasure-Train by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)