[a. L. elatērium, ad. Gr. ἐλατήριον an opening medicine, f. ἐλα- stem of ἐλαύνειν to drive. Senses 3 and 4 are due to ELATER1.]
† 1. A purgative medicine. Obs.0
17211800. in Bailey.
2. A sediment or precipitate from the juice of the Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium agreste, Momordica Elaterium), having a bitter acrid taste, and acting as a drastic purgative and emetic. Also called English Elaterium, to distinguish it from French Elaterium, a much less active preparation, produced by evaporation of the juice.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. xl. 373. Elaterium driueth foorth by siege grosse fleme.
1657. Phys. Dict., Elaterium is good against the dropsie.
1684. trans. Willis Pharmaceutice Rat., 41. Other purging Medicins, as Jalap, Colycinthis, Elaterium consist of sharp particles.
1790. W. Buchan, Dom. Med., 551. If two grains of white vitriol, and the same quantity of elaterium, be dissolved in half an ounce of marjoram-water, [etc.].
1831. J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 22. The elaterium contains a principle sui generis, and a bitter substance almost inert by itself.
1866. Treas. Bot., I. 437/1. So powerful is pure elaterium, that one eighth part of a grain is sufficient to produce strong cathartic effects.
† 3. Elasticity, springiness (spec. of the air): = ELATER1, ELATERY. Obs.
1708. in Kersey.
17211800. in Bailey.
1775. in Ash.
4. Used by Richard for the fruit of the Euphorbiaceæ, which opens elastically when ripe.