Barbitone
/ˈbɑːr.bɪ.təʊn/noun
A barbiturate drug formerly used as a sedative and hypnotic.
Did you know?Barbitone is the British name for barbital, the first barbiturate marketed widely as a sleeping drug; the origin of “barbituric” is traditionally linked to Saint Barbara, though that explanation is not fully certain.
Etymological Timeline
1864
German
Barbitursäure
“Barbituric acid, a compound synthesized by Adolf von Baeyer; the name was traditionally associated with Saint Barbara and uric acid, though the Saint Barbara explanation remains uncertain.”
Late 19th Century
German
Barbital
“The chemical name for the diethyl derivative of barbituric acid.”
1902
German
Veronal
“Trade name introduced for barbital, reportedly referring to Verona, where its discoverers first presented the compound.”
Early 20th Century
English
Barbitone
“British pharmaceutical form of “barbital,” using the chemical suffix “-one.””
Modern English
English
barbitone
“A sedative-hypnotic barbiturate, now largely obsolete because of its risk of dependence, overdose, and respiratory depression.”