'Toxicology' is Greek for 'thestudy of arrow poison' — from 'toxon' (bow). 'Intoxicate' meant 'to poison.'
Definition
The branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons.
The Full Story
Greek18th centurywell-attested
From Greek toxikón (τοξικόν), originally meaning of or for thebow, from toxon (τόξον, bow). The phrase toxikón phármakon (bow-poison) referred to poison smeared on arrowheads, and toxikón came to stand alone for poison. The Greek word toxon (bow) is widely thought to be a borrowing from Iranian — compare Old Iranian *taxša (bow) — entering Greek through contact with Scythian steppe
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'Toxic,' 'toxin,' and 'intoxicate' all trace to Greek 'toxon' (bow). Arrowpoison → poison → anything harmful. And 'intoxicate' originally meant 'to poison,' not 'to make drunk' — being drunk was understood as being 'poisoned' by alcohol. So when you say someone is 'intoxicated,' you're etymologically
share the Greek arrowhead-poison root. The semantic journey from bow-weapon to the systematic science of poisons passes through warfare, medicine, and pharmacology — a route that mirrors humanity s long relationship with lethal substances, from Scythian horsemen to modern clinical toxicology. Key roots: toxon (Greek: "bow, arrow").