Defn: The office or employment of a curate.
CURARE; CURARI
Cu*ra"re Cu*ra"ri (k-r"r), n. Etym: [Native name. Cf. Wourall.]
Defn: A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (S. toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison. [Written also urari, woorali, woorari, etc.]
CURARINE
Cu"ra*rine (k"r-rn or k-r"rn; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A deadly alkaloid extracted from the curare poison and from the
Strychnos toxifera. It is obtained in crystalline colorless salts.
CURARIZE
Cu"ra*rize (-rz), v. t.
Defn: To poison with curare.
CURASSOW
Cu*ras"sow (k-rs"s), n. Etym: [Native name in Brazil.] (Zool.)
Defn: A large gallinaceous bird of the American genera Crax, Ourax, etc., of the family Cracidæ.
Note: The crested curassow (Crax alector) is black, and about the size of a small hen-turkey, with an erectile crest of curled feathers. It ranges from Mexico to Brazil. The galeated curassow or cushew bird (Ourax Pauxi) is similar in size, and has a large, hollow, blue, pear-shaped protuberance on the head.