belladonna
noun
bel·la·don·na ˌbe-lə-ˈdä-nə 
1
: an Old World poisonous plant (Atropa belladonna) of the nightshade family having purple or green bell-shaped flowers, glossy black berries, and root and leaves that yield atropine
called also deadly nightshade
2
: a medicinal extract (such as atropine) from the belladonna plant
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web One of the doctors called in to consult thought poisoning seemed likely, perhaps by opium or belladonna. 
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 Jan. 2022 Even so, they were still regarded with skepticism and fear because botanists recognized them as relatives of the poisonous nightshade, belladonna. Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2021 Concentrated Medicinal Fluid Extracts contained belladonna, arsenic and mercury. New York Times, 27 Apr. 2021 Set out bulbs like Amaryllis belladonna, nerine, pineapple lily (Eucomis) canna, and calla. Sunset Magazine, 3 Aug. 2020 Many of the products were said to contain toxic substances, including belladonna, mercurius solubilis (mercury), and plumbum aceticum (lead). Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2020 Stay away from teething tablets that contain the plant poison belladonna and gels with benzocaine. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 9 Aug. 2019 In the most high-profile case, homeopathic teething products were found to contain toxic belladonna, aka deadly nightshade. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2018 Know your ash from alder, your atropa belladonna from solanum nigrum? OregonLive.com, 16 Jan. 2018 See More
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 Jan. 2022 Even so, they were still regarded with skepticism and fear because botanists recognized them as relatives of the poisonous nightshade, belladonna. Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2021 Concentrated Medicinal Fluid Extracts contained belladonna, arsenic and mercury. New York Times, 27 Apr. 2021 Set out bulbs like Amaryllis belladonna, nerine, pineapple lily (Eucomis) canna, and calla. Sunset Magazine, 3 Aug. 2020 Many of the products were said to contain toxic substances, including belladonna, mercurius solubilis (mercury), and plumbum aceticum (lead). Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2020 Stay away from teething tablets that contain the plant poison belladonna and gels with benzocaine. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 9 Aug. 2019 In the most high-profile case, homeopathic teething products were found to contain toxic belladonna, aka deadly nightshade. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2018 Know your ash from alder, your atropa belladonna from solanum nigrum? OregonLive.com, 16 Jan. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian, literally, beautiful lady
First Known Use
1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing belladonna
Medical Definition
belladonna
noun
bel·la·don·na ˌbel-ə-ˈdän-ə
1
: an Old World poisonous plant of the genus Atropa (A. belladonna) having purple or green flowers, glossy black berries, and a root and leaves that yield atropine
called also deadly nightshade
2
: a medicinal preparation (as atropine) extracted from the belladonna plant and containing anticholinergic alkaloids