deadly nightshade

American  

noun

1. belladonna.

---

deadly nightshade British  

noun

1. Also called: belladonna.   dwale.  a poisonous Eurasian solanaceous plant, Atropa belladonna, having dull purple bell-shaped flowers and small very poisonous black berries

---

Etymology

Origin of deadly nightshade

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

The Solanaceae family is a vast one with more than 2,500 members including tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, aubergines, peppers, tobacco, deadly nightshade and henbane.

From BBC

Italian women — and later, women in Victorian England — would squeeze drops of deadly nightshade into their eyes to dilate their pupils for a striking, wide-eyed look they thought was seductive.

From Salon

On one challenging 3½-mile hike, as we examined a chain cholla cactus and discussed its penchant for sticking to clothing, one of the hikers spotted a deadly nightshade plant with its tempting, poisonous berries.

From Washington Post

Plants such as deadly nightshade can kill if enough of the plant is ingested.

From The Guardian

The mandrake is just one of 2,500 species belonging to the Solanaceae family, which also contains tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, aubergines, peppers, tobacco, deadly nightshade and henbane - they are commonly called the Nightshades.

From BBC