1
Stage 1 of 3
kurari
Cariban · pre-1500s
"an arrow poison"
named the paralyzing plant poison used on hunting arrows
2
Stage 2 of 3
curare
Spanish/Portuguese · 1670s
"a paralyzing poison extracted from plants"
adopted by European explorers documenting Amazonian hunting practices
3
Stage 3 of 3
curare
English · 1670s-1800s
"a plant-derived poison used medically as a muscle relaxant"
entered English through scientific accounts, later used in medicine as a muscle relaxant
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