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

Time Traveler
The first known use of croton oil was in 1827

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.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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