quinine
NounUS[kwahy-nahyn]/ˈkwaɪˌnaɪn/2 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (1)
- a bitter alkaloid extracted from chinchona bark; used in malaria therapyType of antimalarial, antimalarial drugSubstance of tonic, tonic water
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Qui′nine noun
Origin: F. (cf. Sp. quinina), fr. Sp. quina, or quinaquina, Peruvian bark, fr. Peruv. kina, quina, bark. Cf. Kinic.
Chemistry An alkaloid extracted from the bark of several species of cinchona (esp. Cinchona Calisaya) as a bitter white crystalline substance, C20H24N2O2. Hence, by extension Medicine, any of the salts of this alkaloid, as the acetate, chloride, sulphate, etc., employed as a febrifuge or antiperiodic. Called also quinia, quinina, etc. [Written also chinine.]
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54