urushiol

[ oo-roo-shee-awl, -ol ]

noun

1. a toxic, liquid, catechol derivative, the active irritant principle in several species of the plant genus Rhus, as in poison ivy.

urushiol

/ uːˈruː-; ˈuːrʊʃɪˌɒl /

noun

1. a poisonous pale yellow liquid occurring in poison ivy and the lacquer tree

urushiol

/ -ro̅o̅′shē-ôl′,-ōl′ /

1. A toxic substance present in the resin or on the surface of plants of the genus Rhus (syn. Toxicodendron ). Urushiol is a mixture of several derivatives of catechol and is the irritating substance in poison ivy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of urushiol¹

1910–15; < Japanese urushi lacquer + -ol ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of urushiol¹

from Japanese urushi lacquer + -ol ²