ipecac

English

Alternative forms

• ipecacuanha

Etymology

Contraction of ipecacuanha, from Portuguese ipecacuanha, from Tupi-Guarani ipekaaguéne (“emetic creeper”), from ipe (“small”) +‎ kaa (“leaves”) +‎ guéne (“vomit”); or from Tupian ɨpekakwánʸa, from ɨpeka (“duck”) +‎ akwánʸa (“penis”).

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪp.ɪ.kæk/

Noun

ipecac (countable and uncountable, plural ipecacs)

1. The dried rhizome and roots of either of two tropical American plants (Cephaelis acuminata and Cephaelis ipecacuanha) of the madder family used especially as a source of emetine.
2. (pharmacology) An emetic and expectorant drug that contains emetine and is prepared from ipecac especially as a syrup for use in treating accidental poisoning.

   Synonym: syrup of ipecac

3. The shrub that produces ipecac (Cephaelis ipecacuanha), native to Brazil and cultivated elsewhere.

References

• “ipecacuanha”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “ipecac”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Anagrams

• ice cap, ice-cap, icecap