Nightshade
/ˈnaɪtˌʃeɪd/noun
A plant of the genus Solanum or related plants, many of which are poisonous.
Did you know?The name is a simple Old English compound, but its eerie reputation helped make nightshade one of the most infamous plants in European folklore, tied to poison, witchcraft, and death.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
nihtscada
“night shade; darkness at night”
Middle English
ME
night-shade
“a plant associated with darkness or harmful qualities”
Early Modern English
English
nightshade
“the plant name becomes standardized in English”
Modern English
English
nightshade
“a poisonous or toxic plant of the nightshade family”