deadly nightshade

American  

noun

1. belladonna.

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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

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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 • Jul. 10, 2023

The active ingredient in deadly nightshade, atropine, is still used today to dilate the eyes during eye exams, but unlike the cosmetic belladonna drops of the past, the highly diluted modern versions won't blind you.

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2021

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 • Oct. 1, 2020

For this module, the authors engineered their strain to express an enzyme called PLA UDP-glucosyltransferase, which is found in the deadly nightshade plant Atropa belladonna and catalyses the production of PLA glucoside.

From Nature • Sep. 1, 2020

Along the edge of the path is a thicket of weeds: goldenrod, ragweed, asters, burdocks, deadly nightshade, its berries red as valentine candies.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood