croton oil


noun

a brownish-yellow oil, expressed from the seeds of the croton, Croton tiglium, that is a drastic purgative and counterirritant.

Origin of croton oil

First recorded in 1870–75

Example sentences from the Web for croton oil

  • Some oils are active poisons, such as croton-oil, which is the most powerful physic known.

    Encyclopedia of Diet |Eugene Christian
  • A considerable number of prisoners smeared their faces with croton-oil to produce eruptions.

    The Secret Service. |Albert D. Richardson
  • Then he tried the croton-oil, and in ten days he was again under the old flag.

    The Secret Service. |Albert D. Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for croton oil

croton oil

noun

a yellowish-brown oil obtained from the plant Croton tiglium, formerly used as a drastic purgative See also croton (def. 1)