fly agaric

American  

noun

1. a very poisonous common woodland mushroom, Amanita muscaria, having a glossy red or orange cap with white spots, formerly a fly poison.

---

fly agaric British  

noun

1. a saprotrophic agaricaceous woodland fungus, Amanita muscaria , having a scarlet cap with white warts and white gills: poisonous but rarely fatal See also amanita

---

Etymology

Origin of fly agaric

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

“Where there wasn’t enough fly agaric, they wouldn’t let pee go to waste,” said Vishnevsky.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2025

It resembles the psychedelic fly agaric mushroom, a fungus as bright red as Rudolph's schnoz sprinkled with white flecks like snow.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2022

In winter, keep an eye out for red and white-speckled fly agaric mushrooms or the booted knight mushroom.

From The Guardian • May 25, 2018

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "There are several hundred fungi species in the palace garden, including a small number of naturally occurring fly agaric mushrooms."

From Reuters • Dec. 12, 2014

Well, I must not forget to tell you that this fungus, growing in this spot so plentifully, is called fly agaric because a decoction of it was once used to destroy flies.

From Country Walks of a Naturalist with His Children by Houghton, W. (William)