sabadilla
[ sab-uh-dil-uh ]
/ ˌsæb əˈdɪl ə /
noun
a Mexican plant, Schoenocaulon officinale, of the lily family, having long, grasslike leaves and bitter seeds.
the seeds of this plant, formerly used medicinally and as a source of veratrine and veratridine.
Origin of sabadilla
1805–15; < Spanish
cebadilla Indian caustic barley, diminutive of
cebada barley (feminine) ≪ Latin
cibātus (masculine) fodder, nutriment, equivalent to
cibā(re) to feed +
-tus suffix of v. action
Words nearby sabadilla
Example sentences from the Web for sabadilla
Alcoholic extract of sabadilla; Extractum sabadill, L. Prep.
British Dictionary definitions for sabadilla
sabadilla
/ (ˌsæbəˈdɪlə) /
noun
a tropical American liliaceous plant, Schoenocaulon officinale
the bitter brown seeds of this plant, which contain the alkaloids veratrine and veratridine and are used in insecticides
Word Origin for sabadilla
C19: from Spanish
cebadilla, diminutive of
cebada barley, from Latin
cibāre to feed, from
cibus food