botox
UK[ˈbəʊtɒks]US[ˈboʊtɑːks]
n
A drug prepared from the bacterial toxin botulin, used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles.
Etymology
The term Botox is a proprietary name, a condensed form of 'botulinum toxin'. The word 'botulinum' itself derives from the Latin 'botulus', meaning 'sausage', because the bacterium Clostridium botulinum was first identified as a cause of food poisoning from improperly prepared sausages. The '-tox-' element is from Latin 'toxicum', meaning 'poison', which in turn comes from Greek 'toxikon pharmakon', 'poison for arrows'. Therefore, the modern trademark, while not a standard morphological compound, carries the historical logic of 'sausage-related poison', which was later refined into a purified neurotoxin used for specific therapeutic and cosmetic purposes.
Analysis
The word is a trademarked contraction and is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in modern English. It originates from the full scientific term 'botulinum toxin'.
Examples
She gets Botox injections every few months to smooth out her forehead lines.
Botox is also used to treat medical conditions like chronic migraines and muscle spasms.
The doctor explained the potential side effects before administering the Botox.