curare

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: cu=ra=re

CIDE DICTIONARY

curare, n. [Native name. Cf. Wourall.].

 A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (Strychnos toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

curare, n. a resinous bitter substance prepared from S. American plants of the genera Strychnos and Chondodendron, paralysing the motor nerves, used by American Indians to poison arrows and blowpipe darts, and formerly used as a muscle relaxant in surgery.

Etymology

Carib