throw in the bark

verb

To administer quinine.

Meanings

verbthrow in the bark (third-person singular simple present throws in the bark, present participle throwing in the bark, simple past threw in the bark, past participle thrown in the bark)

present singular third person throws in the bark · participle present throwing in the bark · past threw in the bark · participle past thrown in the bark

  1. obsoletemedicineTo administer quinine.

    In intermitting fevers of an obſtinate nature, I have found it necessary to throw in the bark much faſter.

    1790, William Buchan, Domestic medicine: or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases, 11th edition, page 151
    2 more examples

    The physician dined that day at Mr Allworthy's; and having after dinner visited his patient, he returned to the company, and told them, that he had now the satisfaction to say, with assurance, that his patient was out of all danger: that he had brought his fever to a perfect intermission, and doubted not by throwing in the bark to prevent its return.

    1749, Henry Fielding, chapter IX, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V

    An emetic was prescribed, a perspiration broke out, and I now, with an air of confidence, began to throw in the bark, quite sanguine in my expectations of soon checking this formidable disease.

    1864 (Nov 5), E. Hare, "The treatment of malarious fever", The Medical Times and Gazette, Volume 2, page 487

Origin

From the fact that the bark of the cinchona tree is used to make the medicine quinine.

Full word history & related roots →
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APA

throw in the bark. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20in%20the%20bark

MLA

“throw in the bark.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20in%20the%20bark. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “throw in the bark,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20in%20the%20bark.

Source: throw in the bark on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.