noun
curare
kyoor-AR-ee/kjʊˈrɑri/
A plant-derived poison that causes muscle paralysis.
The sealed vessel of curare stands beside dried vines and enclosed arrow tips.
Etymology
The poison’s name is said to mean “he to whom it comes falls.” Originally used on arrows, the substance later found medical use as a muscle relaxant.
In context
another example of a poison that is Medicinal in small quantities is Curare
he finds a curare laced dart in the neck of this head of state.
More examples
- Some Indigenous hunters traditionally coat blowgun darts with curare.
- Curare can paralyze the muscles used for breathing.
- Researchers study curare to understand how nerves communicate with muscles.
Similar words
- poison
- Any substance that harms the body, not necessarily through paralysis.
- toxin
- A broader term for poisons produced by living organisms.