Toadstool
/ˈtoʊdˌstuːl/noun
A mushroom, especially one considered inedible or poisonous.
Did you know?The word began as a folk name for certain mushrooms because people pictured toads sitting on them, not because the fungus was scientifically linked to toads at all.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
tādige?
“No established direct ancestor; the first element is probably from Middle English tode, meaning a toad.”
Middle English
ME
tode
“Toad.”
Middle English
ME
stole
“Seat, stool, or support.”
14th–15th Century
English
toadstole
“A mushroom, especially one thought poisonous or fit only for toads.”
Modern English
English
toadstool
“A mushroom, especially an inedible or poisonous one.”