a. Now rare. [ad. L. vīrōsus, f. vīrus VIRUS.] Poisonous; suggestive of poisonous qualities; rank and unwholesome: a. Of things, esp. plants.
1680. Morden, Geogr. Rect., Germany (1685), 124. The virose streams and particles of Mercury, or other Minerals descending from off their Mountains.
1702. Phil. Trans., XXIII. 1167. Most of them are of an Aromatic Smell and Taste, but some are fœtid, virose, and fervid in their Taste.
1767. Nat. Hist., in Ann. Reg., 98/2. The root of the œnanthes that is like hemlock, with virose juice.
1845–50. Mrs. Lincoln, Lect. Bot., App. 205. Virose, nauseous to the smell, poisonous.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1219/2.
b. Of smell or flavor.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 174. This plant … is of a virose heavy smell.
1761. Phil. Trans., LII. 92. By that time the plants will … have acquired an highly virose smell.
1817. J. E. Smith, in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 4), Suppl. II. 405/1. Some [leaves] have a virose or nauseous flavour about them.
1831. J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 309. Its smell is virose and nauseous.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVII. 206/1. The virose and nauseous odour which characterises crude opium.
