1 a any evergreen tree or shrub of the genus Cinchona, native to S. America, with fragrant flowers and yielding cinchona bark. b the bark of this tree, containing quinine.
2 any drug from this bark formerly used as a tonic and to stimulate the appetite.
Derivatives:
cinchonic adj. cinchonine n.
Etymology: mod.L f. Countess of Chinchoacuten d. 1641, introducer of drug into Spain
Useful english dictionary. 2012.