| graphics version of site | home | services | digital | client comments | news etc | faqs | rates | work with us | contact | links | site map | |
Pronunciation: 'bee-zor or bê-'zor
Noun meaning: A concretion or calculus formed around a foreign object or substance found in the stomachs of some animals, especially ruminants and occasionally in humans. Historically, they have been perceived as an antitoxin to counteract the effects of poison.
The adjective, "bezoardic", is also used as a noun, referring to any substance serving as an antidote for poison.
Etymology: This week's word has come a long way to English. English borrowed it from Old French bezahar via Medieval Latin lapis bezoarticus "antitoxin stone" from Arabic bAzahr, which borrowed it from Persian pAdzahr: pAd- "protecting (against)" + zahr "poison." Persian pAd- derives from the same root as English "food," "pasture," and "foster" (nurture, nourish).
Thought: You probably never suspected that a cat's hairballs had magical powers!