Bushman’s poison, noun phrase
- Origin:
- English, Show more Bushman + English possessive ’s + English poison.
In full Bushman’s poison bush: any of several species of the toxic plant Acokanthera of the Apocynaceae, formerly used by the San in making poison for their arrows; Hottentot’s poison bush, see Hottentot noun sense 6 a. See also gifboom sense b.
[1885 A. Smith Contrib. to S. Afr. Materia Medica 40The Bushmen take the wood of the plant and pound it to a rough powder, which they put into a clay pot and boil for some time, keeping the lid on as the fumes are noxious,..till it is reduced to a cupful of a glutinous fluid...The poison is ready. It is a brownish substance such as you see in a bee-hive.]
1911 E. London Dispatch 10 Nov. 6 (Pettman)This is the Bushman’s poison bush (Acocanthera venenata).
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 100Bushman’s or Hottentot’s poison bush, Acocanthera venenata. This plant was used by the Bushmen in making poison for their arrows. The Kaffirs use it for the cure of snake-bites.
1973 Weekend Post 30 June 6A shrub often seen in Port Elizabeth gardens is the indigenous Acokanthera venenata or ‘bushman’s poison’ tree.
1976 U. Van der Spuy S. Afr. Shrubs & Trees for Garden 65Acokanthera oppositifolia..Bushman’s Poison Bush, Gifboom...Found in the eastern Cape from the Port Elizabeth area into Natal, usually at the edges of forests near the coast.
1981 Vahrmeijer & Steyn Poisonous Plants of Sn Afr. 110The Bushman’s poison bush is a shrub or tree up to 6m high and has milky, white latex.
1988 J. Munday Poisonous Plants in S. Afr. Gardens & Parks 22Bushman’s poison,..Poison tree, Winter sweet. Several species of this genus are indigenous to South Africa and one or two are cultivated.
any of several species of the toxic plant Acokanthera of the Apocynaceae, formerly used by the San in making poison for their arrows; Hottentot’s poison bush, see Hottentotnoun6 a.
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