n.
Pronunciation: ' t ō - ˌ m ā n, t ō - '
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian ptomaina, from Greek pt ō ma fall, fallen body, corpse, from piptein to fall ― more at FEATHER
Date: 1880
: any of various organic bases which are formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria on nitrogenous matter and some of which are poisonous