STRYCHNINE

noun Etymology: French, from New Latin Strychnos, from Latin, nightshade, from Greek Date: 1819 a bitter poisonous alkaloid C 21 H 22 N 2 O 2 that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants (genus Strychnos ) and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system