peyote

play

noun pey·o·te \ pā-ˈō-tē \

variants: or less commonly peyotl play \pā-ˈō-tᵊl\

Definition of peyote

1 :a hallucinogenic drug containing mescaline that is derived from the dried discoid tops of a cactus (Lophophora williamsii) and is used especially in the religious ceremonies of some American Indian peoples — see peyote button

2 :a small, low, spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico with rounded stems having jointed tubercles with tufts of usually woolly hairs — called also mescal

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Recent Examples of peyote from the Web

Then on Sept. 19 guests can attend a program examining the controversial use of peyote as a part of American Indian religious ceremonies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

— faye reeder, star-telegram, "Pantego Lions Club Pancake Breakfast benefits local causes," 16 Aug. 2017
The federal agency planned to put it in the same classification as heroin and peyote, a class that indicates a high potential for abuse.

— anne geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Kava bar banned over designer-drug rule in Lighthouse Point," 30 June 2017
Other drugs in this category include heroin, peyote, and the club drug ecstasy.

— lynn johnson, National Geographic, "Organic Weed? Marijuana Growers Go Green," 16 June 2017
Children were given peyote and encouraged to add to the wall painting as part of ceremonies, Salvador said.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "From Loreto, 3 day-trip adventures in Baja’s high desert," 31 May 2017
This peyote trip was watchable instead of just weird because of the stakes involved.

— spencer kornhaber and sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Leftovers: Seeing Double," 28 May 2017
None of the other Summer of Love drugs — magic mushrooms, peyote and LSD — were evident.

— rosemary mcclure, latimes.com, "Relive San Francisco's Summer of Love (don't forget the flowers in your hair)," 14 May 2017
He had been fascinated by psychedelic drugs since reading about them as a student at Brooklyn College and had experimented with mescaline and peyote.

— william grimes, New York Times, "Nicholas Sand, Chemist Who Sought to Bring LSD to the World, Dies at 75," 12 May 2017
In a 5-4 decision, the court said the use of peyote was not protected by the First Amendment's guarantee of the free exercise of religion.

— maureen groppe, USA TODAY, "As Trump prepares to sign executive order, here's a history of 'religious freedom' laws," 3 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'peyote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of peyote

Origin and Etymology of peyote

Mexican Spanish peyote, from Nahuatl peyotl peyote cactus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1849

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

peyote

play

noun pey·o·te \ pā-ˈōt-ē \

variants: also peyotl play \-ˈōt-ᵊl\

medical Definition of peyote

1 :a hallucinogenic drug containing mescaline that is derived from peyote buttons and used especially in the religious ceremonies of some American Indian peoples

2 :a small spineless cactus of the genus Lophophora (L. williamsii) of the southwestern United States and Mexico having rounded stems covered with jointed tubercules — called also mescal