n.
Pronunciation: ' strik- ˌ n ī n, -n ə n, - ˌ n ē n
Function: 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