 n. A basic nitrogenous organic compound produced by bacterial putrefaction of protein. [Italian ptomaina, from Greek pt  ma, corpse, from piptein, pt-, to fall; see pet- in Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
IN Context:
Why, Windrips just something nasty that's been vomited up. Plenty others still left fermenting in the stomach-quack economists with every sort of ptomaine.
pg 109 Sinclair lewis It Can't Happen Here
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