sabadilla

(sab′ə dilə)

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.

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

See sabadilla in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A Mexican and Central American plant (Schoenocaulon officinale) of the lily family, having very long, densely flowered spikelike racemes, straplike perianth segments, and brown seeds that are rich in veratrine.
  2. The seeds of this plant, used in insecticides and in some medicinal preparations.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish cebadilla

Origin: , diminutive of cebada, barley

Origin: , from Latin cibātus

Origin: , from past participle of cibāre, to feed

Origin: , from cibus, food

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