quinine

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)An alkaloid with the chemical formula C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₂, originally derived from cinchona bark (from plants of the genus Cinchona), used to treat malaria and as an ingredient of tonic water, which presents as a bitter colourless powder; also, a drug containing quinine or a chemical compound derived from it.

   “The alkali of yellow bark may be distinguished from cinchonine by the name of quinine.”

   “The quinine, being more potent than cinchonine, is generally preferred.”

   “In spite of quinine, the men sickened day by day. Many of them, fine, strong, active fellows, who had never known what a day's sickness meant, went down before the malarious mist that gathered in the jungles.”

   “He hadn't the faintest idea what to do with a cold in the head, he just took quinine and continued to blow his nose.”

   ““Die? Yes, they’ll all die—all these men. No bandages, no salves, no quinine, no chloroform. Oh, God, for some morphia! Just a little morphia for the worst ones. Just a little chloroform. God damn the Yankees! God damn the Yankees!””

verb

1. (archaic, transitive)To treat (someone) with quinine.