peyote

noun

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pey·o·te | \ pā-ˈō-tē

\

variants: or less commonly peyotl \ 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

Examples of peyote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Oakland even went a step further by decriminalizing not just mushrooms but a range of other psychoactive plants and compounds including peyote, iboga and ayahuasca. — Hailey Branson-potts, latimes.com, "How a trip on magic mushrooms helped decriminalize psychedelic plants in a California city," 22 June 2019 While Denver's decriminalization effort focused solely on magic mushrooms, Oakland's measure also covers substances like peyote and Ayahuasca. — Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, "Magic mushrooms for better health? Psychedelic drugs are having a moment across US," 24 Aug. 2019 Its right to use peyote was enshrined in law in 1994. — The Economist, "A mind-bending history of mescaline," 28 June 2019 In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act classified both substances as a Schedule 1 drug, along with heroin, peyote and ecstasy. — John Maccormack, ExpressNews.com, "Hemp rush begins on West Texas farms," 29 June 2019 Ethyn Maki, an employee wearing a shirt printed with peyote cactuses, sidled up. — Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, "What Is It with Millennials and Cactuses?," 24 June 2019 Unlike psilocybin mushrooms and peyote cactus, those plants are legal to buy and grow. — Hailey Branson-potts, latimes.com, "How a trip on magic mushrooms helped decriminalize psychedelic plants in a California city," 22 June 2019 This past week Oakland followed suit, also decriminalizing magic mushrooms and peyote. — Alexis Reliford, refinery29.com, "AOC Wants It To Be Easier To Study Magic Mushrooms & Other Psychedelics," 10 June 2019 That Scalia wrote the opinion in Smith, the case about Native American use of peyote, seems ironic. — Christopher Shea, Vox, "Why Jeff Sessions thinks Christians are under siege in America," 1 Aug. 2018

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.

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Last Updated

5 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Peyote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peyote. Accessed 18 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for peyote

peyote

noun

pey·o·te | \ pā-ˈōt-ē

\

variants: also peyotl \ -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