Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sumac \Su"mac\, Sumach \Su"mach\, n. [F. sumac, formerly sumach
   (cf. Sp. zumaque), fr. Ar. summ[=a]q.] [Written also
   {shumac}.]
   1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Rhus}, shrubs or small
      trees with usually compound leaves and clusters of small
      flowers. Some of the species are used in tanning, some in
      dyeing, and some in medicine. One, the Japanese {Rhus
      vernicifera}, yields the celebrated Japan varnish, or
      lacquer.

   2. The powdered leaves, peduncles, and young branches of
      certain species of the sumac plant, used in tanning and
      dyeing.

   {Poison sumac}. (Bot.) See under {Poison}.

Poison \Poi"son\, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion,
   fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught,
   fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.]
   1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism,
      is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly
      effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison; the
      poison of pestilential diseases.

   2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as,
      the poison of evil example; the poison of sin.

   {Poison ash}. (Bot.)
      (a) A tree of the genus {Amyris} ({A. balsamifera}) found
          in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black
          liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities.
      (b) The poison sumac ({Rhus venenata}). [U. S.]

   {Poison dogwood} (Bot.), poison sumac.

   {Poison fang} (Zo["o]l.), one of the superior maxillary teeth
      of some species of serpents, which, besides having the
      cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a
      longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of
      the poison gland terminates. See Illust. under {Fang}.

   {Poison gland} (Biol.), a gland, in animals or plants, which
      secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed
      along an organ capable of inflicting a wound.

   {Poison hemlock} (Bot.), a poisonous umbelliferous plant
      ({Conium maculatum}). See {Hemlock}.

   {Poison ivy} (Bot.), a poisonous climbing plant ({Rhus
      Toxicodendron}) of North America. It is common on stone
      walls and on the trunks of trees, and has trifoliate,
      rhombic-ovate, variously notched leaves. Many people are
      poisoned by it, if they touch the leaves. See {Poison
      sumac}. Called also {poison oak}, and {mercury}.

   {Poison nut}. (Bot.)
      (a) Nux vomica.
      (b) The tree which yields this seed ({Strychnos
          Nuxvomica}). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel
          coasts.

   {Poison oak} (Bot.), the poison ivy; also, the more shrubby
      {Rhus diversiloba} of California and Oregon.

   {Poison sac}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Poison gland}, above. See
      Illust. under {Fang}.

   {Poison sumac} (Bot.), a poisonous shrub of the genus {Rhus}
      ({R. venenata}); -- also called {poison ash}, {poison
      dogwood}, and {poison elder}. It has pinnate leaves on
      graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in
      swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy ({Rhus
      Toxicodendron}) have clusters of smooth greenish white
      berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are
      harmless. The tree ({Rhus vernicifera}) which yields the
      celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the
      poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the
      poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of
      Japan.

   Syn: Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity.

   Usage: {Poison}, {Venom}. Poison usually denotes something
          received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc.
          Venom is something discharged from animals and
          received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting
          of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically
          implies some malignity of nature or purpose.