nightshade
nightshade Lexical Profile
nightshade Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various flowering plants of the genus Solanum or family Solanaceae, typically bearing star-shaped or bell-shaped blossoms with five petals in shades of white, purple, or yellow, followed by fleshy berries that are often toxic.
"The tangled bittersweet nightshade along the fence produced clusters of violet flowers with bright yellow anthers."
Any plant belonging to the family Solanaceae, a diverse group of herbs, shrubs, and trees distributed worldwide that includes both poisonous wild species (such as deadly nightshade) and major agricultural food crops (such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers).
"Some nutritionists advise patients with joint inflammation to test whether eliminating culinary nightshades like tomatoes and potatoes improves their symptoms."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'nihtscada', a compound of 'niht' (night) and 'scadu' (shadow or shade), possibly referring to the plant's preference for shady habitats or the narcotic, sleep-inducing properties of certain poisonous species.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.