sabadilla

[ sab-uh-dil-uh ]

noun

a Mexican plant, Schoenocaulon officinale, of the lily family, having long, grasslike leaves and bitter seeds.
the seeds of this plant, formerly used medicinally and as a source of veratrine.

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

Words Nearby sabadilla

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How to use sabadilla in a sentence

Alcoholic extract of sabadilla; Extractum sabadill, L. Prep.
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British Dictionary definitions for sabadilla

sabadilla

/ (ˌsæbəˈdɪlə) /

noun

a tropical American liliaceous plant, Schoenocaulon officinale
the bitter brown seeds of this plant, which contain the alkaloids veratrine and veratridine and are used in insecticides

Origin of sabadilla

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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