Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Quinine
Qui′nine
,Noun.
[F. (cf. Sp.
quinina
), fr. Sp. quina
, or quinaquina
, Peruvian bark, fr. Peruv. kina
, quina
, bark. Cf. Kinic
.] (Chem.)
An alkaloid extracted from the bark of several species of cinchona (esp.
Cinchona Calisaya
) as a bitter white crystalline substance, C20H24N2O2
. Hence, by extension (Med.)
, any of the salts of this alkaloid, as the acetate, chloride, sulphate, etc., employed as a febrifuge or antiperiodic. Called also quinia
, quinina
, etc. [Written also
chinine
.]