Main Entry:

pto·maine

Pronunciation:

\ˈtō-ˌmān, tō-ˈ\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Italian ptomaina, from Greek ptōma fall, fallen body, corpse, from piptein to fall — more at feather

Date:

1880

: any of various organic bases which are formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria on nitrogenous matter and some of which are poisonous