belladonna
belladonna Lexical Profile
• noun
A highly poisonous herbaceous plant (Atropa belladonna) of the nightshade family, native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, noted for its dull purple flowers, toxic shiny black berries, and the presence of potent tropane alkaloids.
"The apothecary carefully harvested the leaves of the belladonna, knowing that even a small miscalculation in dosage could prove fatal."
A medicinal extract or preparation derived from the leaves or roots of the belladonna plant, historically used as a cosmetic to dilate the pupils and medically to relieve muscle spasms.
"The 19th-century physician prescribed a mild tincture of belladonna to help alleviate the patient's severe intestinal cramping."
• Rhymes for belladonna
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Italian 'bella donna' (meaning 'beautiful lady'). It was so named because historically, women in Italy used extracts from the plant as eye drops to dilate their pupils, producing a wide-eyed effect considered cosmetically attractive.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.