Strychnine
//ˈstrɪkˌnaɪn// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A very toxic, colorless crystalline alkaloid, derived from nux vomica, used as a pesticide. uncountable, usually
"Only don’t say I didn’t warn you if he burns Green Gables down or puts strychnine in the well—I heard of a case over in New Brunswick where an orphan asylum child did that and the whole family died in fearful agonies."
- 2 an alkaloid plant toxin extracted chiefly from nux vomica; formerly used as a stimulant wordnet
Example
More examples"Only don’t say I didn’t warn you if he burns Green Gables down or puts strychnine in the well—I heard of a case over in New Brunswick where an orphan asylum child did that and the whole family died in fearful agonies."
Etymology
From French strychnine, from Greek στρύχνος (strýchnos, “sleepy nightshade”) (or directly from Ancient Greek στρύχνον (strúkhnon)) + -ine.
Related phrases
More for "strychnine"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.