Quassia \Quas"si*a\, n. [NL. From the name of a negro, Quassy, or Quash, who prescribed this article as a specific.] The wood of several tropical American trees of the order {Simarube[ae]}, as {Quassia amara}, {Picr[ae]na excelsa}, and {Simaruba amara}. It is intensely bitter, and is used in medicine and sometimes as a substitute for hops in making beer. [1913 Webster]
Bitterwood \Bit"ter*wood`\, n. A West Indian tree ({Picr[ae]na excelsa}) from the wood of which the bitter drug Jamaica quassia is obtained. [1913 Webster]