Ricin
/ˈraɪ.sɪn/noun
A toxic compound derived from the seeds of the castor oil plant.
Did you know?Ricin is so potent that just a few milligrams can be fatal, making it one of the most toxic substances known to humankind.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
ricinus
“A small tick or castor oil plant, named for its resemblance to a tick.”
Old French
Old French
ricin
“Derived from Latin, referring to the castor oil plant.”
16th Century
English
ricin
“Adopted into English from Latin via French, referring to the toxic compound extracted from castor seeds.”
Modern English
English
ricin
“Referring specifically to the highly toxic protein isolated from castor beans.”