mescaline

noun

mes·​ca·​line ˈme-skə-lən  ˈme-skə-ˌlēn 

: a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C₁₁H₁₇NO₃ that is the chief psychoactive principle in peyote buttons

Natural psychedelics such as mescaline or psilocybin are found in plants considered sacred since ancient times.

—Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández et al.

Examples of mescaline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These are psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine and mescaline. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

The San Pedro cactus, which has been used for thousands of years by Andean communities in northern Peru, also contains mescaline and can be consumed for similar medicinal purposes. —Michaela Trimble, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2024

Peyote, another cactus that also contains mescaline, is a popular choice, as is ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea. —Food Drink Life, The Mercury News, 22 June 2024

Mark Newman It is becoming increasingly accepted that classic psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline can act as antidepressants and anti-anxiety treatments in addition to causing hallucinations. —Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mescaline

noun

mes·​ca·​line ˈmes-kə-lən 

-ˌlēn

: a drug that is obtained from the peyote cactus and causes hallucinations

Medical Definition

mescaline

noun

mes·​ca·​line ˈmes-kə-lən  -ˌlēn 

: a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C₁₁H₁₇NO₃ that is the chief psychoactive principle in peyote buttons