pentobarbital

pen to bar bi tal |ˌpentəˈbärbiˌtäl, -ˌtôl ˌpɛntəˈbɑrbədl | ▶noun Medicine a narcotic and sedative barbiturate drug formerly used to relieve insomnia. [Alternative name: 5-ethyl-5 -(1-methylbutyl )-barbituric acid; often used as the sodium salt (sodium pentobarbitone, Nembutal ).] ORIGIN 1930s: from pentane + barbital (or barbitone ).