First Known Use: 1864
Dictionary
Calabar bean
noun Cal·a·bar bean \ˈka-lə-ˌbär-\
Definition of CALABAR BEAN
: the dark brown highly poisonous leguminous seed of a tropical west African woody vine (Physostigma venenosum) that is used as a source of physostigmine and was used formerly as an ordeal poison in African witchcraft trials
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Origin of CALABAR BEAN
Calabar, Nigeria
Medical Dictionary
Calabar bean
noun Cal·a·bar bean \ˈkal-ə-ˌbär-\
Medical Definition of CALABAR BEAN
: the dark brown poisonous seed of a tropical African woody vine of the genus Physostigma (P. venenosum) that is used as a source of physostigmine
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