Guaco
/ˈɡwɑːkoʊ/noun
A tropical American vine or plant, especially one of the genus Mikania, traditionally used in herbal medicine.
Did you know?Guaco became famous in traditional medicine as a supposed antidote for snakebites, although modern evidence does not establish it as a reliable replacement for emergency treatment.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Quechua
waku
“An Indigenous name for a medicinal tropical plant; the precise original sense is uncertain.”
16th–17th Century
Spanish
guaco
“A name used in Spanish America for certain tropical plants, especially those associated with snakebite remedies.”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Mikania
“The botanical genus containing several plants called guaco; the genus name honors Czech botanist Johann Christian Mikan.”
19th Century
English
guaco
“An English loanword for tropical American medicinal plants, particularly species of Mikania.”
Modern English
English
guaco
“A common or herbal name for several tropical vines and related plants.”