Ptomaine
Pronunciation : Pto"ma*ine
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [From Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Definition : Defn: One of a class of animal bases or alkaloids formed in the putrefaction of various kinds of albuminous matter, and closely related to the vegetable alkaloids; a cadaveric poison. The ptomaines, as a class, have their origin in dead matter, by which they are to be distinguished from the leucomaines.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913