ouabain
|ou-a-bain|
C2
/ˈwɑːbeɪn/
cardiac stimulant
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ouabain' originates from the Somali language, specifically the word 'waabaayo,' where 'waaba' meant 'arrow' and 'ayo' meant 'poison.'
Historical Evolution
'waabaayo' transformed into the French word 'ouabaïo,' and eventually became the modern English word 'ouabain.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'arrow poison,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a cardiac stimulant.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a toxic compound obtained from certain African trees, used as a cardiac stimulant and historically as an arrow poison.
The researchers studied the effects of ouabain on heart cells.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/30 08:18