ipecac

Where does the word "ipecac" come from? It comes from Tupi-Guarani ipekaaguene, and was adopted directly into English (1682).

Ipecac’s story begins in Tupi-Guarani: ipekaaguene meant “a medicinal root.” A small plant whose root was used medicinally to induce vomiting. It reached English by 1682 as ipecac. Shortened and adopted directly for the medicinal root. Today, ipecac means a South American plant root historically used in medicine to induce vomiting.

1. Stage 1 · Tupi-Guarani · 1600s ipekaaguene "a medicinal root", a small plant whose root was used medicinally to induce vomiting.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1682 ipecac "a medicinal root used to induce vomiting", shortened and adopted directly for the medicinal root.