Pepto

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A brand-name pink liquid medicine containing bismuth subsalicylate, taken to relieve upset stomach, indigestion, heartburn and mild diarrhea
2. A familiar nickname for a pink over-the-counter stomach remedy that soothes nausea, indigestion and loose stools
3. The common shorthand for a bubblegum-pink antacid tonic, made from bismuth, that eases digestive discomfort and queasiness

Etymology: "Pepto" is a clipping of the brand name Pepto-Bismol, and its first half comes from Greek. "Peptein" meant "to cook" or "digest," and the root gave English words such as "peptic" and "pepsin," the digestive enzyme. The brand name pairs that root with "bismuth," the metallic element whose compounds the medicine uses. The "bismuth" half has its own murky past. The element's name is often traced to German "Wismut," but scholars disagree about how that word arose, so the exact source is uncertain. The product's active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate, a compound containing bismuth. The name therefore advertises both its purpose, digestion, and its key ingredient.