Barbiturate
/ˌbɑːrˈbɪtʃʊr.eɪt/noun
A drug derived from barbituric acid that depresses the central nervous system and is used as a sedative, hypnotic, or anesthetic.
Did you know?Barbiturates were named from barbituric acid, which was coined in the 19th century from the names Barbara and urea, so the word’s origin is chemical rather than occult even though it has a strangely saintly sound.
Etymological Timeline
1660s
Latin
Barbara
“A female personal name, later associated with Saint Barbara.”
1828
German
Barbitursäure
“Barbituric acid, a newly coined chemical name.”
1830s
English
barbituric acid
“A synthesized acid used as the base compound for later sedatives.”
1903
English
barbiturate
“A class of sedative-hypnotic drugs derived from barbituric acid.”
Modern English
English
barbiturate
“A barbituric-acid-derived depressant drug.”