quassia

noun

quas·​sia ˈkwä-shə 

plural quassias

: 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

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

quassia

noun

quas·​sia ˈkwäsh-(ē-)ə  ˈkwäs-ē-ə 

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