ptisan

[ tiz-uhn, ti-zan ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a nourishing decoction, originally one made from barley, purported to have medicinal quality.

ptisan

/ tɪˈzæn /

Origin of ptisan¹

1350–1400; < Latin ptisana < Greek ptisánē peeled barley, barley water; replacing Middle English tisane < French < Latin, as above

Origin of ptisan¹

C14: from Old French tisane, from Latin ptisana, from Greek ptisanē barley groats

Ptisan, tiz′an, n. a medicinal drink made from barley with other ingredients.

On his next visit the doctor asked, "What effect has the ptisan produced?"

A large cup of ptisan was presented by the page, which the sick man swallowed with eager and trembling haste.

When the diminutive Abb de Voisenon was ordered by his physician to drink a quart of ptisan per hour, he was horrified.

When the little Abb de Voisenon was ordered by his physician to drink a quart of ptisan per hour he was horrified.

Browse