cantharides Hear it!

cantharides Definition

can·thari·des (kan t̸harə dēz′)

  1. cantharis
  2. a dangerous, sometimes fatal, preparation of powdered, dried Spanish flies, formerly used internally as a diuretic and aphrodisiac and externally as a skin irritant

Etymology: ME cantarides < L cantharides, pl. of cantharis, kind of beetle, Spanish fly < Gr kantharis, blister beetle