sabadilla Hear it!

sabadilla definition

saba·dilla (sab′ə dil′ə)

noun

  1. a Mexican and Central American plant (Schoenocaulon officinale) of the lily family, with brown seeds used in insecticides and formerly in medicine
  2. the seeds, containing the alkaloids veratrine, veratridine, etc.

Etymology: Sp cebadilla, dim. of cebada, barley < L cibare, to feed < cibus, food

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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