siˈpeera Bot.
Also sip(e)ira, -(i)era, sipiri.
[Native name in Guyana.]
a. sipeera-tree, the greenheart tree (Nectandra Rodiæi) of Guyana; = bebeeru. b. The bark of this tree.
| 1769 E. Bancroft Nat. Hist. Guiana 333 They contentedly recur to the use of Sipera, or Green⁓Hart-tree Apples. 1829 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) XX. 6/2 The timber of the Green Hart, or Sipiera tree, is very valuable. 1863 Chambers's Encycl. V. 92/2 The timber is commonly called Greenheart; the bark is better known as Bebeeru..and Sipiri or Sipeira. |
Hence siˈpeerine. Chem. [Named by Maclagan in 1843.] (See quot.)
| 1868 Watts Dict. Chem., Sipeerine, Sipirine, Sepeerine, an alkaloid existing, together with bebirine, in the..green-heart-tree... It was discovered by Rodie in 1834. |