/spahr"tee een', -in/ , n.
a bitter, poisonous, liquid alkaloid obtained from certain species of broom, esp. Cytisus scoparius, used in medicine to stimulate the heart and also the uterine muscles in childbirth.
[ 1850-55; irreg. Sparti ( um ) name of a genus of broom ( spárt ( os ) kind of broom + NL -ium -IUM) + -INE 1 ]