croton oil
noun
: a viscid acrid fixed oil obtained from seeds of an Asian croton (Croton tiglium) formerly used as a powerful purgative but now used especially in pharmacological experiments as an irritant
Word History
First Known Use
1827, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near croton oil
Cite this Entry
“Croton oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/croton%20oil. Accessed 27 May. 2023.
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Medical Definition
croton oil
noun
: a viscid irritating oil from an Asian plant of the genus Croton (C. tiglium) that has been used in folk medicine as a cathartic
More from Merriam-Webster on croton oil
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about croton oil
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