hellebore

American  

[hel-uh-bawr, -bohr] / ˈhɛl əˌbɔr, -ˌboʊr /

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Helleborus in the buttercup family, several of which, as the Christmas rose, are cultivated for their foliage and clusters of flowers as well as their tolerance of shade: all Helleborus species are toxic.

2. false hellebore.

3. any of several poisonous or medicinal substances extracted or prepared from these plants.

---

hellebore British  

/ ˈhɛlɪˌbɔː /

noun

1. any plant of the Eurasian ranunculaceous genus Helleborus, esp H. niger (black hellebore), typically having showy flowers and poisonous parts See also Christmas rose

2. any of various liliaceous plants of the N temperate genus Veratrum, esp V. album, that have greenish flowers and yield alkaloids used in the treatment of heart disease

---

Etymology

Origin of hellebore

First recorded before 1000; Old English elleborum, from Latin (h)elleborus, (h)elleborum, reinforced by Old French ellebre, elebore, Middle English el(l)ebre, eleure, or directly from Medieval Latin eleborus, from Greek (h)elléboros; further origin uncertain