a. and sb. Also 7–8 emetick, (7 hemettick). [ad. Gr. ἐμετικ-ός provoking vomiting, f. ἐμέ-ειν to vomit.] A. adj.
1. Having power to produce vomiting. Also fig. sickening, mawkish.
1670. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Ess., 47. Why these should not be Emetick.
1770. R. Baker, Remarks Eng. Lang. (1779), 8. Richardson … in his emetic history of Pamela.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 460. The waters when drank, operate … as emetic.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 74. It possesses emetic qualities.
2. In phraseological combinations: emetic cup, goblet (cf. ANTIMONIAL a. 1); emetic root, Euphorbia corollata; emetic tartar, (now usually) tartar-emetic [mod.L. tartarus emeticus], potassio-antimonious tartrate, C4 H4(NH4)(Sb O)O6·1/2 H2 O; emetic weed, Lobelia inflata; emetic wine = antimonial wine.
1679. trans. Apol. Mdm. Manchini, 14. The Hemettick Wine … quickly brought her to her Grave.
1789. A. Crawford, in Med. Commun., II. 305. A quarter of a grain of emetic tartar.
1720. Lond. Gaz., No. 5884/1. Emerick Wine.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 108. Emetic Tartar … ought to be employed pure.
1877. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 685. A compound of tartar-emetic and cream of tartar.
B. sb. A medicine that excites vomiting.
1657. G. Starkey, Helmont’s Vind., 194. Vomitories … they likewise call by a Greek name, Emeticks.
1788. Ld. Auckland, Diary, in Corr. (1861), II. 94. To take an emetic together.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. xxi. The sea acted as a strong emetic.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 426. Emetics are … employed … for the purpose of producing … vomiting.
transf. 1823. Byron, Juan, VIII. xii. Three hundred cannon threw up their emetic.
