Dover's powder

noun

Do·​ver's powder ˌdō-vərz- How to pronounce Dover's powder (audio)
: a powder of ipecac and opium formerly used as a pain reliever and diaphoretic

Word History

Etymology

Thomas Dover †1742 English physician

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dover's powder was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near Dover's powder

Cite this Entry

“Dover's powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dover%27s%20powder. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

Dover's powder

noun
Do·​ver's powder ˈdō-vərz- How to pronounce Dover's powder (audio)
: a powder of ipecac and opium that is now compounded in the United States with lactose and in England with potassium sulfate and that is used as an anodyne and diaphoretic
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY