noun
mescaline
MEHS-kuhl-ihn
noun
1
A hallucinogenic compound found naturally in the peyote cactus and some related cacti.
"Mescaline has been used in Indigenous religious ceremonies in Mexico for centuries."
"The drug’s hallucinogenic effects come from mescaline extracted from the cactus."
How to Use Mescaline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA natural drug from cactus plants that causes vivid hallucinations.
Common mistake
Don’t confuse with "mezcal", the Mexican spirit distilled from agave — different plant, different substance entirely.
Easily confused with
mezcal
Word Forms
mescalines plural
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_____ has been used in Indigenous religious ceremonies in Mexico for centuries.
Etymology
From "mescal", the name of the peyote cactus, plus the chemistry suffix "-ine" used for alkaloids.