ˈbatracho-combining form of Gr. βάτραχο-ς frog; whence batrachomyomachy|ˌbætrəˌkəʊmaɪˈɒməkɪ|[ad.Gr. βατραχοµυοµαχία, f. βάτραχο-ς + µῦ-ς mouse + -µαχια fighting.] The battle of the frogs and mice, a mock heroic poem, possibly of the Homeric age. batrachophagous|bætrəˈkɒfəgəs|, a.[Gr. -ϕαγ-ος eating + ] Frog-eating. ˌbatrachoˈphobia[Gr. -ϕοβία fear.] Dread of or aversion to frogs, toads, newts, etc.1825Southey Q. Rev. XXXI. 385 Delivered the remnant of the race from their batrachophagous oppressors.1863G. Kearley Links in Chain viii. 162 The batrachophobia is at length giving way..for the Aquarium has made it manifest that the Water Newts..are perfectly harmless little creatures. ▸ batrachotoxinn.Biochem. a highly poisonous alkaloid neurotoxin, which occurs in skin secretions of frogs of the South and Central American genus Phyllobates (family Dendrobatidae); (also) any of a family of compounds having a similar structure; cf.poison dart frogn. at poison n. Compounds 2a.Batrachotoxin has also been found in New Guinea in several species of songbird and in certain beetles of the family Melyridae. It has been suggested that consumption of these beetles is responsible for the presence of batrachotoxin in the birds (and perhaps the frogs).1965J. W. Daly et al. in Jrnl.Amer.Chem.Soc.87 124/2 Our recent expedition..to the Choco rain forest of Western Columbia netted 2400 frogs whose skin extracts yielded a total of 30mg. of the crystalline major active principle which we name batrachotoxin.1997San Diego Union Tribune (Electronic ed.) 13 Aug. e1, Batrachotoxin renders muscles inactive and is one of the deadliest natural substances known. The amount contained in a one-inch frog can kill 100 people.2002Guardian 16 May (Online section) 10/4 The batrachotoxins..are powerful activators of proteins found in the cell wall known as sodium ion channels.
batracho-/ˈbatrəkəʊ/combining form of Greek batrakhos frog: see -o-.