Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

hyoscyamus

American  
[hahy-uh-sahy-uh-muhs] / ˌhaɪ əˈsaɪ ə məs /

noun

  1. the dried leaves, with or without the tops, of the henbane, Hyoscyamus niger, containing the alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine, used in medicine.


hyoscyamus British  
/ ˌhaɪəˈsaɪəməs /

noun

  1. any plant of the solanaceous genus Hyoscyamus, of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, including henbane

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hyoscyamus

1700–10; < New Latin < Greek hyoskýamos, equivalent to hyós (genitive of hŷs hog) + kýamos bean

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As the potato belongs to the botanical family containing the dangerous belladonna, tobacco, hyoscyamus, and stramonium, it is not surprising that is should also contain a powerful poisonous alkaloid, namely, solanine.

From The Home Medical Library, Volume I (of VI) by Winslow, Kenelm

Make into sixty pills with extract of hyoscyamus.

From The Ladies Book of Useful Information Compiled from many sources by Anonymous

This fluid is henbane —that is the commercial name of it—known to the profession, however, as hyoscyamus or hyoscyamine.

From Raspberry Jam by Wells, Carolyn

The former pills were intended only to allay the primary violence of the disease, and when that object is attained, the following remedy may be employed:— Extract of hyoscyamus One grain to four grains.

From The Dog by Dinks

I also procured some extract of hyoscyamus from three shops, and made infusions of the same strength as before.

From Insectivorous Plants by Darwin, Charles

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training