curare

Meaning

Noun

• a plant, Strychnos toxifera (species), formerly used in arrow poisons in South America due to its D-tubocurarine content
• other South American plants with similar toxins that were also used in arrow poisons, mostly in the family Menispermaceae
• a substance containing the alkaloid D-tubocurarine, used historically as a muscle relaxant during surgery

Origin

• From Mawa Cure, referring the Mawa vine, or Strychnos toxifera (species).