[= mod.L. cortex Winteranus (see WINTERAN), named from its discoverer Captain William Winter, who accompanied Francis Drake to the Magellan Straits in 1578 (Clusius).] a. The pungent aromatic bark of Drimys Winteri, a magnoliaceous tree of the mountainous parts of western America from Mexico southwards; used as a stimulant tonic and antiscorbutic; also called Winter’s cinnamon, from its flavor. b. Extended to other medicinal barks, as that of the W. Indian whitewood or wild cinnamon, Canella alba (False Winter’s bark). c. Any of the trees themselves.
1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea, xxxvi. 88. A learned Country-man of ours, Doctor Turner, hath written of it, by the name of Winters barke.
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1662. Captaine Winters Cinamon.
1679. Trapham, Disc. Health Jamaica, 38. Our Winter Bark or West Indian Cinnamon Tree.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, IV. I. 74. White Cinamon, to which some give the Name … Winter’s Bark, or Winter’s Cinamon.
1776. Med. Observ. & Inq., V. 46. The Winter’s Bark-tree, Winterana Aromatica.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 121. The false Winter’s Bark, a good tonic and stimulant, not much known.
