ipecac

US: (ip′i kak′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ip•e•cac  (ip′i kak′), n. 

1. Plant Biology the dried root of a shrubby South American plant, Cephaelis ipecacuanha, of the madder family.
2. Plant Biology the plant itself.
3. Drugs a drug consisting of the dried roots of this plant, used as an emetic, purgative, etc., and as the source of emetine.

Also, ip•e•cac•u•an•ha  (ip′i kak′yo̅o̅ an′ə). 

• Tupi ipekaaguéne, equivalent. to ipeh low + kaâ leaves + guéne vomit
• Portuguese
• short for ipecacuanha 1780–90, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ipecacuanha / ˌɪpɪˌkækjʊˈænə/, ipecac / ˈɪpɪˌkæk/ noun

1. a low-growing South American rubiaceous shrub, Cephaelis ipecacuanha
2. a drug prepared from the dried roots of this plant, used as a purgative and emetic

Etymology: 18th Century: from Portuguese, from Tupi ipekaaguéne, from ipeh low + kaa leaves + guéne vomit