quassia

noun
quas·​sia | \ ˈkwä-shə How to pronounce quassia (audio) \

Definition of quassia

: a drug from the heartwood and bark of various tropical trees of the ailanthus family used especially as a bitter tonic and remedy for roundworms in children and as an insecticide

First Known Use of quassia

1784, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for quassia

New Latin, genus name of a South American tree, from Quassi 18th century Surinam slave who discovered the medicinal value of quassia

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More Definitions for quassia

quassia

noun
quas·​sia | \ ˈkwäsh-(ē-)ə How to pronounce quassia (audio) , ˈkwäs-ē-ə How to pronounce quassia (audio) \

Medical Definition of quassia

1 capitalized : a genus of shrubs and trees (family Simaroubaceae) with clusters of scarlet flowers — compare simarouba
2 : a drug derived from the heartwood and bark of various tropical trees (family Simaroubaceae) and used especially as a bitter tonic and remedy for roundworms in children and as an insecticide