鸩
legendary poisonous bird; poisoned wine; to poison
Meanings
3 senses · 8 examplesnoun
legendary poisonous bird (whose feathers were used to make lethal wine)
In ancient Chinese mythology, this bird was said to have toxic feathers. Soaking its feathers in wine would create a lethal poison. Often written as 鴆 in traditional texts.
The zhen is a legendary poisonous bird.
Ancient people believed that zhen feathers were poisonous and could kill invisibly.
noun
poisoned wine (esp. that made with the legendary bird's feathers)
Commonly used in the idiom 饮鸩止渴 (drinking poisoned wine to quench thirst). The variant character 酖 is sometimes used for this sense.
Drinking poison to quench thirst is a foolish solution.
This cup is poisoned wine; it must not be drunk.
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He was sentenced to death by poisoned wine.
verb
to kill by poisoned wine; to poison with wine
literaryLiterary/archaic usage. The variant character 酖 is also used for this sense. Typically used in historical contexts describing assassination or execution by poisoned wine.
The Empress Dowager intended to kill the minister with poisoned wine.
There were quite a few monarchs in history who were killed by poisoned wine.
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He was sentenced to death by poison for treason.