death cap

American  

[deth kap] / ˈdɛθ ˌkæp /

noun

1. a deadly poisonous mushroom of the genus Amanita, especially A. phalloides, with a distinctive membranous cup around the base of the stalk. Death caps resemble a number of edible mushrooms and are responsible for more deaths than any other species of mushroom.

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death cap British  

noun

1. a poisonous woodland saprotrophic basidiomycetous fungus, Amanita phalloides, differing from the edible mushroom ( Agaricus ) only in its white gills (pinkish-brown in Agaricus ) and the presence of a volva See also amanita

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Etymology

Origin of death cap

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

death cap

The illnesses and deaths are primarily associated with amatoxin poisoning from people accidentally picking and eating death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms, according to the state.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026

People who have accidentally consumed the death cap were usually foraging for mushrooms in the wilderness, either alone or with a group, officials say.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2026

In extreme cases, a person who ate death cap mushrooms can go into catastrophic liver failure and need a liver transplant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

"Because the death cap can easily be mistaken for edible safe mushrooms, we advise the public not to forage for wild mushrooms at all during this high-risk season."

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2025

Akin to the preparation of one’s coffin, and storing it in one’s domicil, for years perhaps, is the preparation of one’s shroud, and death cap, and all the et cætera of laying out.

From Dealings with the Dead, Volume I (of 2) by School, A Sexton of the Old