Decoction
WordNet
noun
(1) (pharmacology) the extraction by boiling of water-soluble drug substances
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From décoction or decoctio (decoct-, past participle stem of decoquere ‘boil down’, from de + coquere ‘cook’).
Noun
- an extraction or essence of something, obtained by boiling it down
- 1993, Anthony Burgess, A Dead Man In Deptford
- Poley offered a hot decoction of blackberries, saying: Peace?
- 1994, Jeanette Winterson, Art & Lies
- Witches and devils no longer threaten you and me. We don’t mind living next door to the harmless lady with her herb garden and decoction still, her black cat and red hair.
- 1993, Anthony Burgess, A Dead Man In Deptford