1.
[syn: Peruvian balsam, Myroxylon pereirae, Myroxylon balsamum pereirae]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Peruvian \Pe*ru"vi*an\, a. [Cf. F. p['e]ruvien, Sp. peruviano.]
Of or pertaining to Peru, in South America. -- n. A native or
an inhabitant of Peru.
[1913 Webster]
Peruvian balsam. See Balsam of Peru, under Balsam.
Peruvian bark, the bitter bark of trees of various species
of Cinchona. It acts as a powerful tonic, and is a remedy
for malarial diseases. This property is due to several
alkaloids, as quinine, cinchonine, etc., and their
compounds; -- called also Jesuit's bark, and cinchona.
See Cinchona.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Peruvian balsam
n 1: tree of South and Central America yielding an aromatic
balsam [syn: Peruvian balsam, Myroxylon pereirae,
Myroxylon balsamum pereirae]