Upas Tree
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The Javanese tree, Antiaris toxicana, the milky juice of which contains a virulent poison and is used for tipping arrows.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Upas Tree” mean?
The Javanese tree, Antiaris toxicana, the milky juice of which contains a virulent poison and is used for tipping arrows.
Is “Upas Tree” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.