QUININE

quinine

(noun) a bitter alkaloid extracted from chinchona bark; used in malaria therapy

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

quinine (countable and uncountable, plural quinines)

(pharmaceutical drug) A bitter colourless powder, an alkaloid derived from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria and as an ingredient of tonic water.

Source: Wiktionary

Qui"nine, n. Etym: [F. (cf. Sp. quinina), fr. Sp. quina, or quinaquina, Peruvian bark, fr. Peruv. kina, quina, bark. Cf. Kinic.] (Chem.)

Definition: An alkaloid extracted from the bark of several species of cinchona (esp. Cinchona Calisaya) as a bitter white crystalline substance, C20H24N2O2. Hence, by extension (Med.), any of the salts of this alkaloid, as the acetate, chloride, sulphate, etc., employed as a febrifuge or antiperiodic. Called also quinia, quinina, etc. [Written also chinine.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition