Word Study
[2x]
: Pâ Pæ Pè Pé Pœ P- P. P/ P< Pa Pb Pc Pd Pe Pf Ph Pi Pj Pk Pl Pm Pn Po Pp Pr Ps Pt Pu Pv Pw Px Py
ptomaine
CIDE DICTIONARY
ptomaine, n. [From Gr. a dead body.].
One of a class of animal bases or alkaloids formed in the putrefaction of various kinds of albuminous matter, and closely related to the vegetable alkaloids; a cadaveric poison. The ptomaines, as a class, have their origin in dead matter, by which they are to be distinguished from the leucomaines. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
ptomaine, n. any of various amine compounds, some toxic, in putrefying animal and vegetable matter.
Idiom
ptomaine poisoning archaic food poisoning.
Etymology
F ptoma{iuml}ne f. It. ptomaina irreg. f. Gk ptoma corpse
For further exploring for "ptomaine" in Webster Dictionary Online
