ipecac

Meaning

Noun

• The dried rhizome and roots of either of two tropical American plants (Cephaelis acuminata (species) and Cephaelis ipecacuanha (species)) of the madder family used especially as a source of emetine.
• An emetic and expectorant drug that contains emetine and is prepared from ipecac especially as a syrup for use in treating accidental poisoning.
• The shrub that produces ipecac (Cephaelis ipecacuanha (species)), native to Brazil and cultivated elsewhere.

Origin

• , from Portuguese ipecacuanha, from ipekaaguéne, from ipe + kaa; or from Tupi ɨpekakwánʸa, from ɨpeka + akwánʸa.