noun
belladonna
bel-uh-DAH-nuh/ˌbeləˈdɑːnə/
The poisonous deadly-nightshade plant.
The guide identifies the poisonous plant beside the path as belladonna.
Etymology
The Italian plant name literally reads as “fair lady,” but the source considers it more likely a folk-etymological reshaping of older nightshade names. The apparent reference to beauty may therefore disguise an earlier plant name.
In context
too closely related to the deadly nightshade plant belladonna for comfort.
Poisonous plants like hemlock and belladonna are lethal
More examples
- The historical medicine bottle is labeled belladonna.
- The lesson distinguishes belladonna from harmless garden berries.
- An old pharmacology text describes an extract of belladonna.
Similar words
- deadly nightshade
- The common English name for the same plant.