laudanum

Meanings

1. Any of several tinctures of opium, once widely used for various medical purposes and as a recreational drug.

1. To add laudanum to (a drink or the like).
2. To cause (a person) to be high on laudanum.

Etymology

From New Latin, from lādanum (“a gum resin”), from Ancient Greek λᾱ́δανον (lā́danon). Originally the same word as ladanum, labdanum, compare French laudanum, Italian laudano, ladano. Perhaps influenced by Latin laudō (“to praise”). See ladanum. Used by Paracelsus to refer to ladanum gum, and to a compound recipe containing pearls, but apparently not to any preparation of opium; this modern sense was introduced by his followers (Sigerist 1941:540–1).