See Also: physostigma(dictionary)
physostigma(medicine)
toad-eat(dictionary)
toad(encyclopedia)
toad(dictionary)
sea toad(medicine)
Toad(medicine)
toad(dictionary)
horned toad(encyclopedia)
toad-in-the-hole(dictionary)

toad-eater (iou) and physostigma (iou)


toad-eater (iou)



toad-eater noun. E17.
[from TOAD + EATER.]
A person who eats toads; orig. spec. a charlatan's attendant who ate or pretended to eat toads (regarded as poisonous) to demonstrate the charlatan's skill in expelling poison. E17.
A fawning flatterer, a sycophant; = TOADY noun 2. Also (derog., now rare), a humble friend or dependant. M18.

physostigma (iou)



physostigma noun. M19.
[mod. Latin (see below), from Greek phusa bladder + STIGMA, with ref. to the hooded extension of the style.]
Any of several African leguminous vines of the genus Physostigma, esp. P. venenosum; (a medicinal extract of) the poisonous seed of P. venenosum, the Calabar bean.