Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Any tree of poisonous character, especially species of Rhus; also
Croton Verreauxii , a small Australian tree. - noun In Australia, the blinding-tree or tiger's-milk, Excæcaria Agallocha, often called
river poison-tree on account of its habitat and in distinction from another species of the same genus. Seetiger's-milk .
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word poison-tree.
Examples
-
To return the cup with its contents untasted, will give him reason to think that we believe it to be the juice of the poison-tree; it will provoke his anger and bring destruction upon us all.
-
Brahma answers that the demon's power comes from him, and he does not feel at liberty to proceed against it; "for it is not fitting to cut down even a poison-tree that one's own hand has planted."
-
But you seem to have spent an hour in that poison-tree grove, and that gives the 'devil-trees,' as
-
It was a poison-tree which her tears watered and caused to shoot forth yet deeper roots, yet wider branches, overspreading her life with ever denser, more noxious shadows.
-
It is like the poison-tree in travellers 'stories, tempting weary men to rest beneath its thick foliage, and insinuating death into the limbs that relax in the fatal coolness of its shade.
-
He believed in the diffusion of the principles which he proclaimed, and the mighty Name which he served, as able to girdle the poison-tree, and to take the bark off it, and the rest, the slow dying, might be left to the work of time.
Expositions of Holy Scripture: Romans Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)
-
With the loyal Southeners, the government can find a way to be just without leaving a root of that poison-tree which has nearly been the utter death of the Republic.
A Discourse in Memory of our Late President, Abraham Lincoln
-
God and man, has slain the South, and as the monstrous blossom of a poison-tree, has slain its friend and honor in Abraham Lincoln.
-
And in what a rate of terrible geometrical progression, far beyond our poor computation, any act of Injustice once done by us grows; rooting itself ever anew, spreading ever anew, like a banyan-tree, -- blasting all life under it, for it is a poison-tree!
-
"The juice of the upas, -- vulgarly called the poison-tree."
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.