ˈkwīˌnīn also ˈkwiˌnīn or kwə̇ˈnīn sometimes kwə̇ˈnēn or ˈkwiˌnēn or kə̇ˈnēn or ˈkwinə̇n; Brit usually kwə̇ˈnēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish quina cinchona bark (short for quinaquina, quinquina, from Quechua, perhaps modification of New Latin Cinchona ) + English -ine — more at cinchona
1. : a bitter efflorescent crystalline levorotatory alkaloid C 20 H 24 N 2 O 2 obtained from cinchona bark that is a diacid base forming two series of salts and is derived from methoxy-quinoline and quinuclidine and that is used in medicine especially in the form of salts
2. : any of the salts of quinine (as the hydrochlorides or sulfates) used as a febrifuge, antimalarial, antiperiodic, and bitter tonic