Hypertext Webster Gateway: "curare"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Curare \Cu*ra"re\ Curari \Cu*ra"ri\(k?-r?"r?), n. [Native name.
Cf. {Wourall}.]
A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American
Indians from the bark of several species of {Strychnos} ({S.
toxifera}, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken
internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the
blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison. [Written
also {urari}, {woorali}, {woorari}, etc.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
curare
n : a toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American
trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles;
used by South American indians as an arrow poison;
"curare acts by blocking cholinergic transmission at the
myoneural junction" [syn: {tubocurarine}]
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