scammony

From Middle English scamōnīe, from Old French scamonie, from Latin scammōnia, from Ancient Greek σκαμμώνιον (skammṓnion).

scammony (countable and uncountable, plural scammonies)

1. Convolvulus scammonia, a twining perennial bindweed native to the eastern part of the Mediterranean basin, whose juice has been used in medicine as scammonium.
2. The cathartic gum resin obtained from this plant.
   • 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 217:

     Compounded with honey, scammony is recommended as an aphrodisiac by Avicenna.

• Mexican scammony
• scammoniate
• scammonic acid
• scammonin

• Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “scammony”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.