Main Entry: strych·nine

Pronunciation: \ˈstrik-ˌnīn, -nən, -ˌnēn\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, from New Latin Strychnos, from Latin, nightshade, from Greek

Date: 1819

: a bitter poisonous alkaloid C₂₁H₂₂N₂O₂ that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants (genus Strychnos) and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system